The Origin(s) of Science

“Science begins with the Greeks” is a common refrain in popular introductions to science. But is it true? In this course we will explore a range of non-western scientific traditions, some of which can be dated much earlier than the Greeks, others of which are contemporary or later but which developed independently, in order to critically assess this claim and to better understand the diverse ways that science has developed and been practiced in different cultures. In doing so, we will reflect upon what we mean by “science” and question whether the way that we think about modern science biases our understanding of earlier scientific traditions.