What is this course about anyways?What is this course about anyways?

Einstein: Einstein: "Education is what "Education is what remains after one has forgotten remains after one has forgotten

everything he learned in school."everything he learned in school."

HIST/HUM/PHYS 361: HIST/HUM/PHYS 361: Science and CultureScience and Culture

Thematic divisionsThematic divisions

In the first segment we focus on the development / In the first segment we focus on the development / emergence of science and scientific inquiry into emergence of science and scientific inquiry into naturenature as a discipline distinct from religion. as a discipline distinct from religion.

In the second segment the focus is on the development In the second segment the focus is on the development of increasingly physical models of nature and how of increasingly physical models of nature and how Instruments facilitate the practice of scientific inquiryInstruments facilitate the practice of scientific inquiry

In the third segment attention turns to relationship In the third segment attention turns to relationship between humans, science, and the environment. Applied between humans, science, and the environment. Applied Science (industrialization, engineering, technology) Science (industrialization, engineering, technology) emerges.emerges.

‘‘reality and clarity are reality and clarity are complementarycomplementary’’ Niels Bohr [jn] Niels Bohr [jn]

That is, one cannot have both at the same time.That is, one cannot have both at the same time. Nonetheless, in the popular imagination we want to Nonetheless, in the popular imagination we want to

believe that this is not the case. believe that this is not the case. To have both provides a kind of security? Something To have both provides a kind of security? Something

humans crave? humans crave? That is, cultural expectations / aspirations / hopes often That is, cultural expectations / aspirations / hopes often

get in the way of determining reality = Bias. get in the way of determining reality = Bias. So too is the determination of ‘reality’ handicapped by So too is the determination of ‘reality’ handicapped by

incomplete data, instrument failure, etc. incomplete data, instrument failure, etc.

Questions I [jn]Questions I [jn] Both science and religion deal with ‘nature’. What is the difference? Both science and religion deal with ‘nature’. What is the difference? How does culture affect / encourage / discourage scientific How does culture affect / encourage / discourage scientific

discovery?discovery? How does scientific discovery / knowledge affect culture? How are How does scientific discovery / knowledge affect culture? How are

these connected? and what are the limitations to this kind of these connected? and what are the limitations to this kind of feedback? feedback?

Do humans use science to justify political, social, cultural policies? Do humans use science to justify political, social, cultural policies? How does society cope with scientific ideas that appear to be How does society cope with scientific ideas that appear to be

counter-intuitive?counter-intuitive? Is there a difference between science and technology? And should Is there a difference between science and technology? And should

society promote one over the other? society promote one over the other?

Questions II [gb and gb]Questions II [gb and gb] Why should society support science?Why should society support science? What is the economic price of knowledge acquisition? What is the economic price of knowledge acquisition?

Esp. when there is no immediate commercial value. If its Esp. when there is no immediate commercial value. If its too high, what can we do?too high, what can we do?

How does science affect cultural change? Can that How does science affect cultural change? Can that change be measured and explained?change be measured and explained?

What is the What is the ““TruthTruth”” and who is its gatekeeper? and who is its gatekeeper? What happens when scientific What happens when scientific ““TruthTruth”” [and/or scientific [and/or scientific

consensus about what is true] is unacceptable to the consensus about what is true] is unacceptable to the masses?masses?

Questions III [jn]Questions III [jn] What is the connection between Science and What is the connection between Science and

Religion? Religion? Is science a system of belief?Is science a system of belief? Is religion a science?Is religion a science? Consider these words: Consider these words: "Science without religion is lame. "Science without religion is lame.

Religion without science is blind.”Religion without science is blind.” What does it mean when we claim to find order in What does it mean when we claim to find order in

nature?nature? Is nature really ordered or are we forcing it to appear Is nature really ordered or are we forcing it to appear

that way so that we can explain it ?that way so that we can explain it ? Are humans part of nature? Or different in some Are humans part of nature? Or different in some

fundamental way different from other species? fundamental way different from other species?

Sub Texts [gb]Sub Texts [gb]

Issues that will permeate the course…Issues that will permeate the course…Cooperation versus Competition as the Cooperation versus Competition as the means to achieve the ‘more perfect’ and / or means to achieve the ‘more perfect’ and / or ideal state/governmentideal state/governmentWhy do we so easily treat nature as a Why do we so easily treat nature as a consumable? Nature would seem to have consumable? Nature would seem to have no spiritual value but is just a machine.no spiritual value but is just a machine.Are humans really separate and distinct Are humans really separate and distinct from nature?from nature?

More Sub Texts [jn&gb]More Sub Texts [jn&gb]

Why do we require certainty in order to make decisions?Why do we require certainty in order to make decisions? Can we trust our senses? How can we ‘be sure’?Can we trust our senses? How can we ‘be sure’? How do reason and experience interact? Is rationalism How do reason and experience interact? Is rationalism

superior to empiricism? Of the latter to the former? superior to empiricism? Of the latter to the former? Has anything really changed for 10,000 years in terms of Has anything really changed for 10,000 years in terms of

human behavior and human/institutional structures?human behavior and human/institutional structures? Has science ever impacted the way in which society Has science ever impacted the way in which society

functions?functions? What does it mean to be What does it mean to be ‘‘enlightenedenlightened’’? ?

Max PlanckMax Planck

““We have no right to assume We have no right to assume that any physical laws exist, or if that any physical laws exist, or if they have existed up to now, they have existed up to now, that they will continue to exist in that they will continue to exist in a similar manner in the future.”a similar manner in the future.”

Whatever can he mean? Whatever can he mean?