Science in Western Culture, 1650-1900
HIST 254
Spring 2012
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
SISP 254 |
| Certificates: International Relations |
Between the mid-17th century and the start of the 20th century, Western science and technology underwent dramatic change. Beginning as a rarefied activity carried out by cultural elites from largely agrarian societies, science by the end of the 19th century was rapidly becoming a massive, institutionalized undertaking lying at the heart of industrial, technological, and economic development. In sum, during this period, the scientific enterprise evolved from something that looks quite foreign to us today into a close approximation of its modern and familiar form. This course traces this evolution, exploring in particular the shifting relationships between science and technology, between scientific and religious authority, and between science and its social, economic, and political environment, from courtly life in the 17th and 18th centuries and imperial expansion to the Industrial Revolution. Students will learn about and engage current intellectual debates in the historical study of science and acquire techniques for using a variety of different types of historical sources to approach the past. |
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Essential Capabilities:
None |
| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS HIST |
| Course Format: Lecture | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (EDST)(HIST-MN)(HIST)(IDEA-MN)(IDEA)(STS) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: Not Available |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Jacob, James R., THE SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTION
Jacob, Margaret C. and Larry Stewart, PRACTICAL MATTER: NEWTON'S SCIENCE IN THE SERVICE OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY, 1687-1851.
Phillip Appleman, ed. DARWIN: NORTON CRITICAL EDITION.
Lightman, Bernard, ed. VICTORIAN SCIENCE IN CONTEXT.
Porter, Theodore. TRUST IN NUMBERS: THE RISE OF STATISTICAL THINKING, 1820-1900.
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Examinations and Assignments:
Assignments include two short papers, a take-home midterm, a take-home final exam, and reading responses. The grades will be based on your understanding of the material, your ability to analyze the material in response to questions, and your ability to communicate your analysis in a clear and well-organized fashion. Each of the two papers will be worth 20% of the course grade. The midterm will be worth 20% and the final exam will be worth 30% of the course grade.
Participation - This will be based on your level of participation in the class. Participation will be worth 10% of the course grade. |
| Instructor(s): Tucker,Jennifer Times: .M.W.F. 10:00AM-10:50AM; Location: PAC004; |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 35 | | SR major: 3 | JR major: 5 | | |
| Seats Available: -4 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 3 | JR non-major: 6 | SO: 8 | FR: 10 |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 3 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 3 |
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