UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO
RIO PIEDRAS CAMPUS
COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCES
DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
Title: History of the Scientific Revolution
Code: PHYS 3125; Sect. 0U1; CNL-C-311; MJ
4:00 pm-5:20 pm.
Number of Credits: 3
Co-Requisite: None
Requisite: None
Descripci—n del curso
La formaci—n y
desarrollo de ciencia moderna ser‡ discutida, desde la noci—n que las matem‡ticas
podr’an ser utilizadas como medio para entender la naturaleza, hasta el
experimentalismo como mecanismo de evaluaci—n publica entre pares acadŽmicos. Adem‡s de las ponencias, los
estudiantes tendr‡n oportunidad de explorar sus intereses particulares,
presentando una rese–a de libro a sus compa–eros. Los temas cubren los inicios filos—ficos de la ciencia en la
sociedad griega, su perdida y milagrosa preservaci—n durante el medioevo, la
aparente trivial innovaciones astron—micas de Copernico, su implicaciones con
respecto al movimiento por Kepler y Galileo, culminando en la famosa s’ntesis
de la ley de gravedad de Newton.
TambiŽn se discutir‡ su continuo desarrollo europeo, al igual que su
eventual expansi—n en la esfera cultural hispana.
Description
The formation and development
of modern science will be discussed, from the notion that mathematics could be
used as a means to understand nature, to experimentalism as a means of public
evaluation between a society of peers.
Aside from lectures, the students will be given the opportunity to
explore their particular interests, presenting a book review to their peers.
The topics that will be covered include the philosophical origins of science in
Greek society, its loss and miraculous preservation during the Medieval period,
the apparently trivial astronomical innovations made by Copernicus, the
evaluation of its implication with respect to motion by Kepler and Galileo,
culminating in the famous Newtonian synthesis: the law of gravity. The continued European development, as
well as its eventual diffusion to the Hispanic cultural sphere will also be
discussed.
Objectives
After the completion of this
course, the student will be able to:
¥ differentiate
between the various philosophical changes associated with the
Scientific Revolution
¥ identify
the contextual factors influencing the emergence and development of the
Scientific Revolution
¥ trace the impact of the
Scientific Revolution on the formation of modern science in
Europe and its diffusion to
the the Americas
¥
recognize the unique cultural strands of Western Civilization, visa-viz that of
non-Western social groups
¥
develop a tolerance of diverse historical interpretations of events end figures
¥
employ higher education academic writing and reading skills
¥
construct a coherent synthesis of a bookÕs principal ideas and themes
Course Content
|
Topic |
Assigned time (hours) |
|
1 Introduction |
3 |
|
2 Babylonian and Egyptian Science |
3 |
|
3 Classical Greek Science |
3 |
|
4 Hellenistic Science |
3 |
|
5 Medieval Science |
3 |
|
6 Renaissance |
3 |
|
7 Scientific Revolution: Astronomy |
3 |
|
8 Scientific Revolution: Galileo |
3 |
|
9 Isaac Newton |
3 |
|
10 Extending the Newtonian paradigm |
3 |
|
11 Charles Darwin & Latin America |
3 |
|
12 Role of the Industrial Revolution |
3 |
|
13 The new science |
3 |
|
14 Big Science in the United States |
3 |
|
15 Science in Puerto Rico |
3 |
|
Total hours |
45 contact hours |
Instructional
Strategy
There will be
three lectures per week, allowing for a 15-minute session per class to discuss
the required reading material.
Students will be expected to reach a chapter each week, accompanied by
supplementary material. Each
student will also be required to identify any relevant topic of interest, for
which they will read any book of their own choice. (The selected book must meet
standard academic criteria.)
The principal
instructional strategy is to expose the introductory level student to key
events and figures in the history of science, as well as to provide a
controlled academic space in which to explore their own particular interests in
the field.
Minimum Require
Facilities
Traditional
lecture room.
Evaluation
The final grade
will be determined by the following criteria:
|
Criteria |
Percent of grade |
|
1) Midterm exam |
25% |
|
2) Final exam |
25% |
|
3) Book review |
25% |
|
4) Attendance & class
participation |
25% |
|
Total |
100% |
Grading System
90% = A
80% = B
70% = C
60% = D
<60% = F
Bibliography
1. Ede A. &
Cormack L. B. 2012. A History of Science in Society: From Philosophy to
Utility. Toronto: University of Toronto Press.* (Required)
2. Bowler, P. J. & Iwan Rhys Morus. 2005. Making
Modern Science: A Historical Survey. Chicago, Ill: University of Chicago Press. (Reference)
3. L. Daston &
E. Lunbeck. 2011. Histories of Scientific Observation. Chicago:
University of Chicago Press.
4. T. K. Simpson.
2012. Newton, Maxwell, Marx: Spirit, Freedom, and the Scientific Vision. Santa Fe, N.M.:
Green Lion Press.
5. L. Torres. 2002. Asistencia Tecnológica:
derecho de todos.. San Juan,PR: Editorial Isla Negra.
Academic Resources
1.
ISIS (History
of Science Society – HSS)
2. Technology & Culture (Society for the History of
Technology – SHOT)
3. Bulletin of the History of
Medicine
(American Association of the History of Medicine; Johns Hopkins Institute of
the History of Medicine)
Derechos de estudiantes
con impedimientos:
La UPR cumple con
todas las leyes y
reglamentos
federales y estatales relacionados a discriminaci—n, incluyendo
la Ley Federal ÒADAÓ
(American
Disabilities Act) y la
Ley 51 del Estado
Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico. Los estudiantes
que reciban servicios de Rehabilitaci—n Vocacional deben
comunicarse con el (la)
Profesor(a) al inicio del
semestre para planificar el acomodo
razonable y equipo de
asistencia
necesario conforme a
las recomendaciones de la
Oficina de Asuntos de
Personas con Impedimentos (OAPI) del
Decanato de Estudiantes. TambiŽn aquellos
estudiantes con necesidades especiales que requieren
de algœn tipo de
asistencia o acomodo deben
comunicarse con el(la) profesor(a).
Rights of
Students with Disabilities
UPR complies with all federal and state laws and
regulations regarding discrimination, including the Americans with Disabilities
Act 1990 (ADA) and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Law 51. Students with
disabilities will receive a reasonable accommodation for equal access to
education or services at UPR.