History of Modern Science from Copernicus to Climate Change

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

Modern Science seems to shape our culture everywhere we look. Scientific techniques and explanations weave into the texture of our daily lives, from the clothes we wear to the food we eat and electronic devices we use. Increasingly, it seems, science and the people who speak for it also tell us what the world around us is, who we are, and even what it all means. Yet the relatively high cultural status accorded to productively manipulating and explaining the natural world is a recent historical development. This course explores important episodes in the history of modern science and its cultural authority from the so-called Scientific Revolution to present-day controversies over science, belief, and public policy. We will read important texts from scientists, as well as sources showing how other writers adopted, repurposed, attacked, or modified scientists' words and ideas. By the end of the course, students will have a better understanding of the main contours of key moments in modern science, as well as the trends and complexities of science in modern society.