LBCL 397 The Sciences and Society

Fall 2010

ATTENDANCE IS REQUIRED

Tuesday 11:45-13:00
Thursday 11:45-13:00

Course objectives:

To introduce students to the fundamental scientific ideas which determined the important role of science in the twentieth century. The course is designed to serve as a concise and analytical introduction to the major developments in modern science. Views on the implications of genetic research, the reliability and growth of scientific knowledge, and the interaction between the sciences and society will be also discussed.

Methodology:

Lectures and discussions will be aimed at analyzing the evolution of scientific ideas (from their known original formulation to their present status), which led to the major achievements in modern science. A number of case studies will demonstrate the power of a special method of inquiry used by the most successful thinkers - from the Eleatics and Aristotle to Galileo and to Einstein. It can be used for revealing hidden knowledge everywhere - from daily life to courts of justice and to research. Convincing and helping students to adopt the combination of creative and analytical thinking involved in this method is one of the major objectives of the science course.

Required Books:

1. Lecture notes and public domain texts will be emailed to all.
2. V. Petkov, Relativity and the Nature of Spacetime 2nd ed. (Springer-Verlag, Berlin Heidelberg 2009). We will cover five chapters and two appendices (one of which was Chap. 7 in the first edition). The library of the Liberal Arts College has two copies of the first edition of the book, which can be mostly used.

Class format mixes lectures and discussions, and it is mandatory that each text is carefully read prior to the class in which it is due.

Recommended books:

1. Andrew Ede, Lesley B. Cormack (Eds) A History of Science in Society:A Reader (Broadview Press, 2007)
2. P. Sukys, Lifting the Scientific Veil (Rowman & Littlefield, Lanham 1999).
3. R. C. Olby, G. N Cantor, J. R. R. Christie, and M. J. S. Hodge (eds), Companion to the history of modern science (Routledge, London 1996).
4. A. R. Hall (ed.), The rise of modern science (Collins, London 1962)

Some online texts will be necessary for a number of topics which we will cover; these will be announced in class. Most links to those texts are given at: Science and History and Philosophy of Science Links

Assignments and grading:

The term paper, which is necessary for the completion of this course, should demonstrate students' ability to analyze the issues they are writing on (mere descriptions should be avoided). Papers are to be submitted on the due date (as the deadline is strict do not take the risk to write your papers at the end of the semester). Late submissions will result in lowering the grade by five marks per day (including holidays and weekends). As papers are not returned you should keep copies of your work.

Make sure to read what is required for an A grade, the requirements for research papers, and information on plagiarism.

Final grades are based on the following:

Class attendance and participation...........................10%
Mid-term exam..............................................................30%
Term paper (8-10 pages; due on 2 December).........20%
Final exam.....................................................................40%

Office Hours: Thursday 14:30 - 15:30, Liberal Arts College (2040 Mackay Street), Room RR-104.

Recommended Links:

Back to the Main Page