Scientific Method: Critical Inquiry into Question of Extraterrestrial Life

4 units · Undergraduate lower division (0-99)

Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Course does not presume to answer question of whether or not there is intelligent life in the universe but rather uses this question as a pedagogic tool to introduce central ideas, techniques, and limitations of the scientific method—what questions would need to be asked, what scientific knowledge would be needed, and what obstacles would have to be overcome just to address this question. P/NP or letter grading.