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2018　Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences37:History of Science

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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.)
Wed3-4(G221)  
Group
-
Course number
LAH.S433
Credits
1
Academic year
2018
Offered quarter
3Q
Syllabus updated
2018/4/6
Lecture notes updated
2018/11/21
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

This lecture offers the history of science through examples of thinking about scientists’ lives in society.
In particular, each class focuses on a historical scientist and compares extracts of primary source materials (his/her own writings), secondary source materials (biographies or commentaries) and audiovisual aids. Students will examine the differences of the descriptions in these materials and consider how scientists’ lives and achievements are accepted in society.

Student learning outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Grasp scientists’ lives and achievements from multiple points of view.
2) Get basic knowledge to deliver their opinions about how scientists should be from multiple points of view.

Keywords

History of Science, History of Philosophy, Scientist, Society

Competencies that will be developed

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

Class flow

Each class consists of a short lecture on a scientist’s achievements and related history, and a comparative survey of primary source materials, secondary source materials and audiovisual aids. There is a group discussion at the end of each class.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Guidance: Aristotle and nature Taking Aristotle as an example, understand philosophers in ancient Greece.
Class 2 Leonardo da Vinci and inventions Taking da Vinci as an example, understand superior artisans in the Renaissance period.
Class 3 Galileo Galilei and religion Taking Galilei as an example, understand Court Philosophers in the early 17th century.
Class 4 Isaac Newton and mathematics Taking Newton as an example, understand mathematics and universities in the late 17th century.
Class 5 Antoine Lavoisier and chemistry Taking Lavoisier as an example, understand chemistry and academies in the 18th century.
Class 6 Nikola Tesla and electricity Taking Tesla as an example, understand scientists in private companies in the late 19th century.
Class 7 Marie Curie and radioactivity Taking Curie as an example, understand physics in the 20th century and women in science.
Class 8 James Watson and DNA Taking Watson as an example, understand biology and competitions in the 20th century.

Textbook(s)

None required.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Kiyonobu Itakura, A Short Biographical Dictionary of Scientists (Kasetsusya, 2000). (Japanese text)

Assessment criteria and methods

Engagement to the class (attendance and short reports) 60 %, Final report 40 %

Related courses

  • LAH.T102 ： History of Science A
  • 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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