Print

2019　History of Science A

Font size  SML

Register update notification mail Add to favorite lecture list
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
2019
Offered quarter
4Q
Syllabus updated
2019/3/25
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

This lecture offers the history of science from the point of view of relatively viewing 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 scientists, theories and experiments work together to make progress, and achievements are published in academic societies, etc.) common since early times? If not, how did these activities emerge and become common? This lecture cultivates the point of view of staying active in the field of ‘science’ that will continue 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 each 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 and chemistry existed? Understand the changes of the classifications in science.
Class 3 Since when have universities existed? Understand the rise of medieval universities.
Class 4 Who were scientists? Understand how the occupation of scientist emerged.
Class 5 Presentation of midterm report. Peer review activities to improve report.
Class 6 Did theories and experiments work together to make progress? Understand how experimental science began.
Class 7 How were scientists educated? Understand the changes of science education.
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.

Hideto Nakajima, Science in Society (The Open University of Japan, 2008). (Japanese text).
Michiyo Nakane et al., Is Scientific Truth Absolute? (Beret Publishing, 2009). (Japanese text).

Assessment criteria and methods

Engagement to the class (attendance and short reports) 50 %, Midterm report 20 %, Final exam 30%

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.)

Mainly use materials and videos translated in Japanese and partially use videos in English.
It is preferable to have intermediate-level capacity for reading Japanese and elementary-level capacity for listening to English.

Page Top