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Academic Year 2000/2001

The Scientific Method: Cases and Conflicts
CHEM 350 FA

This course focuses on a critical inquiry into scientific thought, including the perspectives of Wesleyan faculty from the Division of Natural Science & Mathematics and those with expertise in science issues from the humanities and social sciences. Beginning with an overview of the intellectual foundations of the scientific methods in the 17th century as a response to Aristotelian scholasticism, the course will cover the contributions of Bacon, Descartes, Kepler, Galileo, Newton, Pascal and others; the current influence of contemporary thinkers such as Ayer and Popper; and the emergence of constructivism. A series of specific topics will be chosen, such as relativity theory, quantum mechanics and the uncertainty principle, the big bang theory of th e origin of the universe, the discovery of the DNA double helix, Godel's incompleteness theorem, Darwin's natural selection and entropy, disorder, and chaos theory. Ongoing research on the biology of AIDS and controversial issues such as polywater and co ld fusion will be used to illustrate how the scientific method seeks to validate knowledge and correct for mistakes. The course will consider current critiques of the validity and objectivity of science emanating from cultural studies, including cultural constructivism, postmodernism, feminist theory, and eco-environmentalism. A number of guest speakers from diverse sectors of the Wesleyan faculty will be invited. This course can be taken independently and also satisfies an expectation of the Science Writing Program. Not a gut.

MAJOR READINGS

Two course packets plus selected readings in: J. Rouse, "What are Cultural Studies of Scientific Knowledge?"
N.K. Hayles, "Chaos Bound: Orderly Disorder in Contemporary Literature and Science"
S. Harding, "Whose Science? Whose Knowledge?"
C. Merchant, "The Death of Nature: Women, Ecology and the Scientific Revolution."
Plus for general reference: S.R. Horton, "Thinking Through Writing"
R.H. Johnson & J.A. Blair, "Logical Self-Defense"

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Three 10-20 page papers plus final exam.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: NSM CHEM    Grading Mode: Graded   

Prerequisites: NONE Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-26-2001

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