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Nobel Physicist R.P. Feynman: "All things are made up of atoms--little particles that move around in perpetual motion, attracting each other when they are a little distance apart, but repelling on being squeezed into one another. In that one sentence, you will see, these is an enormous amount of information about the world, if just a little imagination and thinking are applied." The concept of atomism can be traced back at least 2500 years and is one of the most important and enduring intellectual legacies from antiquity. The 19th century conflicts between positivists and atomists are an especially important argument in the history of ideas. In the early 20th century, with the interpretation of Brownian motion and emission spectra based on atomic theory and the discovery of quantum mechanics, atomism emerged dramatically from the realm of metaphor and hypothesis to be confirmed as something as near to concrete reality as is possible based on modern science and technology. Today, methods are available which enable us to "see" atoms and perform experiments on single atoms and combinations thereof in molecules and macromolecules such as proteins and DNA. This has spawned a new field known as "nanoscience". This course examines the chronological development of the concept of atomism from ON THE NATURE OF THINGS, of Lucretius (Gr. 50 B.C.), to the present day. The course will develop a critical perspective of diverse religious (Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Jewish), cultural, and philosophical as well as scientific aspects and implications of atoms and atomism. Our investigation of this subject will be based on readings and responses to primary source materials and demonstrations of single molecule experiments. This course satisfies an NSM expectation.
COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion
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-30-2006
Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459