HISTORY OF SCIENCE II

The course will prepare students to analyze texts related to the emergence of modern science, medicine, and technology in Western Europe during the early modern period by placing them in their philosophical, social, and cultural contexts.
The formal objectives of the course include understanding the methods of the history of science and using these methods to interpret the development of ideas and practices regarding the natural world during this period. Additionally, the formal objectives include an understanding of the historiography of the scientific revolution.

1. Understanding to the primary features of early modern natural philosophy.
Knowledge of terminology related to early modern natural philosophy
Understanding of how natural philosophy changed and developed during this period.
Understanding of how society and culture interacted with theories about nature.
2. The ability to analyze natural philosophical texts written in this time period.
The ability to place writings about nature in their social and cultural contexts.
3. The ability to trace the historiography of the scientific revolution
The ability to formulate reasoned arguments regarding the history of early modern natural philosophy and science.
4. The ability to communicate ideas about the history of early modern natural philosophy and medicine in written exams.
5. The ability to critique modern interpretations of early modern science.

There are no prerequisites for the course.

The course covers the history of early modern thought about nature and its applications, including natural philosophy, medicine, alchemy, and astronomy. These subjects will be studied in light of their social, religious, and cultural contexts.

Peter Dear, Revolutionizing the Sciences: European Knowledge and Its Ambitions, 1500-1700.

Pamela Long, Artisans/Practitioners and the Rise of the New Sciences, Oregon State University Press, 2011.

Malcolm Oster, ed., Science in Europe, 1500-1800, A Primary Source Reader, Palgrave, 2002.

The final exam will consist of a written exercise designed to evaluate the student's ability to interpret the scientific revolution.

The course will be based on lectures.

English

written