Final answer:
Philosophy held sway over questions of nature and existence in the past due to the lack of scientific methods for experimentation and observation, relying instead on logic and reason.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why, according to Dr. Shoket, did philosophy used to have authority over such questions? The reason philosophy once held authority over various inquiries into the nature of the world is predominantly B) Due to the lack of scientific methods in the past. Ancient Greek philosophers relied heavily on reason and logic rather than experiment and observation. They developed formal rules of deductive and inferential logic that were instrumental in the pursuit of understanding nature and human existence. Without the tools for empirical investigation, philosophers were compelled to argue their views. The best argument would prevail, despite it not necessarily aligning with physical reality.
Philosophers were not more skilled in experimentation because they actually had little to none of the experimental practices that are a hallmark of modern science. Far from being more interested in facts than science, early philosophers often did not feel the need to base their theories on life experiences or external evidence. The strength of a philosophical argument lay heavily on rhetoric and logical structure. It's important to note that these methods constituted a significant and foundational contribution to the evolution of the scientific method, despite the delay in embracing empirical approaches.