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2018　History of Science B

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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.)
Mon1-2(S221)  Thr1-2(S221)  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.T202
Credits
2
Academic year
2018
Offered quarter
3Q
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 flow of history from ancient times to the present age, and covers scientists in each age, mainly from the field of physics and chemistry.
The most likely chance for us to become familiar with historical scientists might be through the names of units and laws (such as Kepler’s laws). So firstly, let us start from these famous scientists and make a flow of history linking the effects of their achievements or teachings. At the same time, this lecture points out that there were many theories that were widely believed and many scholars who were influential at the time. Students will not only learn the origin of modern science, but will have a chance to decide if it is suitable to describe the history by tracing back to only the factors directly linking to modern science.

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) Have their own opinions on the descriptions of history: looking at the past as the origin of the present, or looking at things which had value at the time.

Keywords

History of Science, History of Philosophy, Scientist, Physics, Chemistry

Competencies that will be developed

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

Class flow

A theme will be discussed in a class.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Guidance: The origin of science and natural philosophy Understand how science emerged.
Class 2 Aristotelian Physics Aristotelian Physics Understand the process of systematizing disciplines.
Class 3 The Renaissance of the twelfth century and the rise of universities Understand how universities emerged.
Class 4 The Italian Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution Understand the process of the construction of modern science.
Class 5 The rise of experimental science Understand how experimental science emerged.
Class 6 The institutionalization of science Understand how academies and the occupation of scientists emerged.
Class 7 The Age of Enlightenment and the light of reason Understand the process of the separation of science from religion.
Class 8 From the method of fluxions to mathematical analysis Understand the process of the development of calculus and mathematical analysis.
Class 9 The chemical revolution and the French Revolution Understand the process of the construction of modern chemistry.
Class 10 The industrial revolution and science in Britain Understand the relationship between the industrial revolution and science.
Class 11 The science education and science in Germany Understand how research universities emerged.
Class 12 Science in the American industrial society Understand how scientists joined private companies.
Class 13 Western ‘science’ and Japan Understand how Japan imported ‘science’ from the West.
Class 14 Science and Nationalism Understand how science became controlled by states.
Class 15 How we describe the history of science Discuss the descriptions of the history.

Textbook(s)

None required.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Yasu Furukawa, Social History of Science, revised and enlarged edition (Nansosha, 2000). (Japanese text)
Other references will be informed during the lecture.

Assessment criteria and methods

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

Related courses

  • LAH.T102 ： History of Science A
  • LAH.T302 ： History of Science C
  • LAH.T103 ： History of Technology A
  • LAH.T203 ： History of Technology B
  • LAH.T303 ： History of Technology C

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

None required.

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