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2018　History of Science A

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Academic unit or major
Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s)
Takuwa Yoshimi 
Class Format
Lecture     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
Mon5-6(S223)  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.T102
Credits
1
Academic year
2018
Offered quarter
4Q
Syllabus updated
2018/3/20
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

This lecture offers the history of science as a point of view to relatively view the situation surrounding modern science.
It is essential to understand a lot about scientific activities to learn and study scientific knowledge. Are the scientific activities that we now take for granted (for example, there is an occupation of scientist, who make theories and conduct experiments which work together to make progress and the results are published in academies, etc.) common since early times? If not, how did these activities emerge and become common? This lecture cultivates the point of view to stay active in the field of ‘science’ that continues to change in the future, by viewing things relatively which have value at this moment.

Student learning outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand the origin of science and scientific activities, and their changes.
2) Grasp relatively the present scientific activities and university education on the basis of the flow of history.

Keywords

History of Science, History of Philosophy, Scientist, University

Competencies that will be developed

Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills Communication skills ✔ Critical thinking skills ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

A theme (a question) will be discussed in a class.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Guidance: Introduction to the history of ‘science’ Understand what the discipline of the history of science is.
Class 2 Since when have the classifications of mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology existed? Understand the changes of the classifications in science.
Class 3 Who were scientists? Understand how the occupation of scientist emerged.
Class 4 Where was the boundary between science and non-science? Understand the position of the fields such as magic, alchemy and astrology.
Class 5 Did theories and experiments work together to make progress? Understand how the experimental science began.
Class 6 How were scientists educated? Understand the changes of science education.
Class 7 What human resources has Tokyo Tech developed? Understand the history of the Tokyo Institute of Technology.
Class 8 Where are scientists now? What are scientists doing now? Understand present scientists’ activity and their career development.

Textbook(s)

None required.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Masanori Kaji (ed.), What are Scientists? (Maruzen, 2007). (Japanese text)
Hideto Nakajima, Science in Society (The Open University of Japan, 2008). (Japanese text).

Assessment criteria and methods

Engagement to the class (attendance and short reports) 10 %, Midterm report 20 %, Final exam 70%

Related courses

  • LAH.T103 ： History of Technology A
  • LAH.T203 ： History of Technology B
  • LAH.T303 ： History of Technology C
  • LAH.T202 ： History of Science B
  • LAH.T302 ： History of Science C

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

None required.

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