History of Science
Code: 100305Credits: 6
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | FB | 2 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Jaume Sastre Juan
- Email :
- jaume.sastre@uab.cat
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
There are none.
Objectives
The subject encourages Philosophy undergraduates to develop their own vision of the history of science from antiquity to the present, based on the problems and methods of the social sciences and the humanities.
The subject examines key issues of the evolution of science, trying to critically connect the different areas of knowledge. We consider science as a social and cultural practice, intimately related to politics, gender, health, technology, and the environment, and linked to the materiality of objects and spaces.
In the first part of the course we will approach the origins of science in antiquity and its development up to the eighteenth century, in order to understand the transformations within natural philosophy and the use of instruments and experiments in the modern period.
In the second part we will analyse the social and cultural relations of science and technology in the last two centuries. In this case, students should be able to understand contemporary technosciences as a global phenomenon.
Learning outcomes
- CM01 (Integrate philosophical and historical perspectives in the analysis of complex social, cultural and scientific phenomena, promoting a critical reading of the past and its projection into the present.) Integrate philosophical and historical perspectives in the analysis of complex social, cultural and scientific phenomena, promoting a critical reading of the past and its projection into the present.
- CM02 (Apply a situated philosophical gaze to critically evaluate the ethical, epistemological, and political implications of historical and scientific narratives, considering how gender and associated inequalities have conditioned the production and dissemination of knowledge.) Apply a situated philosophical gaze to critically evaluate the ethical, epistemological, and political implications of historical and scientific narratives, considering how gender and associated inequalities have conditioned the production and dissemination of knowledge.
- KM01 (Recognise in historical sources the main historical, social and cultural processes that have shaped modernity and contemporaneity, as well as their influence on philosophical thought.) Recognise in historical sources the main historical, social and cultural processes that have shaped modernity and contemporaneity, as well as their influence on philosophical thought.
- KM02 (Identify the historical and philosophical contexts in which scientific knowledge has been developed, understanding their transformations and controversies and how the participation of women and minorities has shaped them.) Identify the historical and philosophical contexts in which scientific knowledge has been developed, understanding their transformations and controversies and how the participation of women and minorities has shaped them.
- SM01 (Interpret historical and scientific texts and materials with a philosophical perspective, connecting different conceptual frameworks and traditions of thought.) Interpret historical and scientific texts and materials with a philosophical perspective, connecting different conceptual frameworks and traditions of thought.
- SM02 (Analyse historical discourses and events from philosophical categories such as time, experience, memory or rationality.) Analyse historical discourses and events from philosophical categories such as time, experience, memory or rationality.
Contents
1st part
Origins: Scientific Cultures in the Ancient Mediterranean World
Medieval Science: Interactions, Universities and Theology
Scientific Revolutions? Machines, Universes, Experiments and Mathematics
2nd part
Enlightened Science: Electricity, Systems and Public Sphere in the Eighteenth Century
Science and Society in the Nineteenth Century: Industry, Empire and Evolution
Science in the Twentieth Century: Technoscience and Power
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lectures | 50 | 2 | |
| Estudio, lectura y redacción de trabajos | 70 | 2.8 | |
| Discussion and preparation of essays | 20 | 0.8 |
For each topic there are some reference texts, which the student must use to prepare for discussion in the classroom, as a complement of the lecturer’s presentation. Texts will be available in advance in the Virtual Campus, along with some guiding questions, power point presentations of each session, web links and additional readings.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam 1st part | 30 % | 2.5 | 0.1 | CM01, CM02, KM01, KM02, SM01, SM02 |
| Exercise 1st part | 20 % | 2.5 | 0.1 | CM01, CM02, KM01, KM02, SM01, SM02 |
| Exercise 2nd part | 20 % | 2.5 | 0.1 | CM01, CM02, KM01, KM02, SM01, SM02 |
| Exam 2nd part | 30 % | 2.5 | 0.1 | CM01, CM02, KM01, KM02, SM01, SM02 |
This course can only be assessed through continuous assessment, which will consist in:
1st part
30% from a partial exam, which will consist of questions, similar to those proposed in the Virtual Campus or those that we have raised and debated in the classroom.
20% from a written or oral exercise, the format of which will be annnounced in due course.
2nd part
30% from a partial exam, which will consist of questions, similar to those proposed in the virtual Campus or those that we have raised and debated in the classroom.
20% from a written or oral exercise, the format of which will be annnounced in due course.
All assessment activities will have the opportunity to be revised. On carrying out each evaluation activity, lecturers will inform students (on Moodle) of the procedures to be followed for reviewing all grades awarded, and the date on which such a review will take place.
To pass the subject through continuous assessment, a minimum of 5 is required.
The student will be given the grade of “non-assessable” if less than 30% of the assessment activities are submitted.
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity, the student will be given a zero for this activity,
regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.
This subject entirely prohibits the use of AI technologies in all of its activities. Any submitted work that contains content generated using AI will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade will be awarded a zero, without the possibility of reassessment. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.
For their admission to reassessment, students must have been previously assessed from a set of activities that are equivalent to a minimum of 2/3 parts of the whole qualification. The minimum average grade of the assessed activities cannot be inferior to 3,5 nor higher than 5.
The assessment activities in which irregularities have been committed cannot be reassessed.
Reassessment will consist in repeating the failed partial exams and submitting again the exercices in which the student failed. The format will be announced with enough anticipation.
It is possible that the Department of Philosophy will establish (as will be done during the first semester) a period dedicated to evaluative tests. The teaching staff will indicate whether such a period exists or what the test dates are at the beginning of each course.
Any change related to assessment, methodology, etc., will appear at the Virtual Campus in due course.
Bibliography
Agar, John. Science in the Twentieth Century and Beyond. Cambridge: Polity, 2012.
Biagioli, Mario (2008). Galileo cortesano: La práctica de la ciencia en la cultura del absolutismo. Buenos Aires: Katz.
Bowler, Peter J.; Morus, Iwan Rhys. Panorama general de la ciencia moderna. Barcelona: Crítica, 2007.
Collins, Harry; Pinch, Trevor. El gólem. Lo que todos deberíamos saber acerca de la ciencia. Barcelona: Crítica, 1996.
Crawford, Kate, (2023). Atlas de IA : poder, política y costes planetarios de la Inteligencia Artificial, Ned.
Dear, Peter. La revolución de las ciencias. El conocimiento europeo y sus expectativas, 1500-1700. Madrid: Marcial Pons, 2007.
Edgerton, David. Innovación y tradición: historia de la tecnología moderna. Barcelona: Crítica, 2007.
Fara, Patricia. Breve historia de la ciencia. Barcelona: Ariel, 2009.
Fox Keller, Evelyn. Reflexiones sobre género y ciencia. València: Alfons el Magnànim, 1991.
Gould, Stephen J. La falsa medida del hombre. Barcelona: Crítica, 1997.
Gribbin, John. Historia de la ciencia, 1543-2001. Barcelona: Crítica, 2004.
Hessenbruch, Arne (ed.). Reader's Guide to the History of Science. London: Fitzroy Dearborn, 2000.
Kragh, Helge. Introducción a la historia de la ciencia. Barcelona: Crítica, 2007.
Krige, John; Pestre, Dominique (eds.). Companion Encyclopedia of Science in the Twentieth Century. London & New York: Routledge, 2013.
Kuhn, Thomas S. L'estructura de les revolucions científiques, traducció de Josep Batalla. Santa Coloma de Queralt: Obrador Edèndum, 2007. La estructura de las revoluciones científicas, traducción de Carlos Solís. Madrid;México: Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2006;
Kuhn, Thomas S. El camino desde la estructura: ensayos filosóficos, 1970-1993. Barcelona: Paidós, 2002.
Lindberg, David C. Los inicios de la ciencia occidental. Barcelona: Paidós, 2002.
Morus, Iwan Rhys (ed.). The Oxford Illustrated History of Science. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2017.
Netz, Reviel (2022). A New History of Greek Mathematics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Nieto-Galan, Agustí (2011). Los públicos de la ciencia: Expertos y profanos a través de la historia. Madrid: Marcial Pons.
Pestre, Dominique. Ciència, diners i política: assaig d'interpretació. Santa Coloma de Queralt: Obrador Edèndum, 2008.
Pickstone, John (2000). Ways of Knowing: A New History of Science, Technology and Medicine. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Poskett, James (2022). Horizontes: Una historia global de la ciencia. Barcelona: Crítica.Principe, Lawrence M. La revolución científica. Madrid: Alianza, 2013.
Proctor, Robert; Schiebinger, Londa, Agnotología : la producción de la ignoracia. Prensas de la Universidad de Zaragoza.
Robson, Eleanor (2009). Mathematics in Ancient Iraq: A Social History. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Rossi, Paolo. El nacimiento de la ciencia moderna en Europa. Barcelona: Crítica, 1998.
Schiebinger, Londa, (2004). ¿Tiene sexo la mente? : las mujeres en los orígenes de la ciencia moderna. Ediciones Catedra.
Shapin, Steven. La revolución científica. Una interpretación alternativa. Barcelona: Paidós, 2000.
Software
None.
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE