History and Philosophy of Science
American University of Central Asia
Fall 2015
NTR 105.1
ID 3721
Room # 310
Course Description
This course serves as an introduction to the History and Philosophy of Science as a field of
specialized study, as well as an exploration of key developments in the history of science in
general. We will read and discuss texts falling under the following categories: 1) primary
historical scientific texts (for example Aristotle, Euclid, Galileo), 2) contemporary analyses and
critiques of such texts (such as Pingree, Saliba, Orhulik), 3) primary sources from different
periods on both the philosophy of science as well as the history of science (such as Bacon,
Popper, Kuhn), and 4) contemporary secondary sources of scientific texts (such as Dawkins). In
this regard the course provides students with an understanding and familiarity with the different
approaches and methodologies that fall under the broader category of History and Philosophy of
Science and an understanding of history of science itself from ancient to modern times.
Class Format
Classes will be a combination of interactive lectures and seminars, with an emphasis on seminar
discussions and active student participation.
Assignments and Grading
The assignments for this course will be primarily reading, writing and leading discussions, as
well as submitting short written reflections on the assigned readings. The writings will consist of
two essays (5-7 pages, double spaced). In the week prior to the submission of essays, each
student is expected to give a short 3-5 min. presentation addressing their essays topics. Students
will have the option of writing one longer paper (10-15 pages) rather than two, with the approval
of their instructor.
The details and requirements for all assignments will be discussed and explained in class, and a
detailed description of the essay format will be provided. Plagiarism, of course will not be
tolerated and will result in failure of the course, as well as possible expulsion from the
University.
Grade Breakdown:
First paper
Second paper
Response papers
20%
20%
35%
Presentations
In-class participation
Grading Scale
A
АВ+
B
10%
15%
94-100%
90-93%
86-89%
80-85%
ВС+
C
С-
77-79%
74-76%
68-73%
64-67%
D+
D
DF
60-63%
54-59%
50-53%
< 50%
Schedule of Readings and Assignments
Week 1 (Sept. 2)
Introduction: what is the History and Philosophy of Science?
The Beginnings of Science: From the Pre-Socratics to Aristotle
Week 2-3 (Sept. 7, 9, 14)
Selections from G.S Kirk, J.E. Raven and M. Schofield, The PreSocratic Philosophers.
Secondary reading: Anthony Kenny, A New History of Western
Philosophy, selections from Chapter 1, 5.
Week 3-4 (Sept.16, 21)
Aristotle On the Heavens, Book 1.
Secondary reading: Anthony Kenny, A New History of Western
Philosophy, selections from Chapter 1, 5.
Questioning the History:
Week 4 (Sept. 23)
David Pingree, Hellenophilia versus the History of Science
Introduction to Euclid’s Geometry:
Week 5 (Sept. 28, 30)
Euclid, Euclid’s elements of Geometry, Book 1.
(First paper to be assigned)
The Copernican Revolution:
Week 6 (Oct. 7)
George Saliba, Islamic Reception of Greek Astronomy
Week 7 (Oct. 12, 15)
Galileo Galilei, Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World
Systems
Week 8 (Oct. 19, 21)
First paper discussions
Semantics, Questions and Interpretations of Science
Week 9 (Oct. 26, 28)
Frances Bacon, Novum Organum (The New Organ or True
Directions Concerning the Interpretation of Nature), Book 1
First paper due (Oct. 28)
Week 10 (Nov. 2, 4)
Karl Popper, Science: Conjectures and Refutations
Week 11 (Nov. 9. 11)
Thomas Kuhn, The Structures of Scientific Revolution
Feminist critiques of Science
Week 12 (Nov. 16, 18)
Kathleen Okruhlik, Gender and the Biological Sciences
(Final paper to be assigned)
Evolution
Week 13-4
(Nov. 23, 25, 30, Dec. 2)
Richard Dawkins, The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for
Evolution.
Week 15 (Dec. 7, 9)
Final paper discussions
Bibliography (in order of reading):
1. Kirk, G.S., Raven, J.E, Schofield, M. The Pre-Socratic Philosophers: A Critical History
with a Selection of Texts. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1983.
Kenny, Anthony. Ancient Philosophy: A New History of Western Philosophy. vol. 1.
Oxford, 2002.
2. Aristotle, On the Heavens; with an English transl. by W.K.C. Guthrie. London,
Cambridge (Mass.): Havard University Press, 2006.
3. Pingree, David. Hellenophilia versus the History of Science. Isis Vol. 83, No. 4 (Dec.,
1992), pp. 554-563.
4. Euclid, Euclid’s Elements of Geometry. Edited by J.L Heilberg, transl. Richard
Fitzpatrick. Publisher: Richard Fitzpatrick, 2007. Online:
http://farside.ph.utexas.edu/Books/Euclid/Elements.pdf
5. Saliba, George. “Islamic Reception of Greek Astronomy”. Proceedings of the
International Astronomical Union. 12/2/2008.
6. Galilei, Galileo. Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems. (An online source
to be announced).
7. Bacon, Francis. Novum Organum (The New Organ or True Directions Concerning the
Interpretation of Nature). ed. by Joseph Devey, M.A. (New York: P.F. Collier, 1902)
Online: http://oll.libertyfund.org/titles/bacon-novum-organum
8. Popper, Karl. Science: Conjectures and Refutations. 2nd ed. Routledge: 2002.
9. Kuhn, Thomas. The Structures of Scientific Revolution. 3rd ed. University of Chicago
Press; 1996.
10. Okruhlik, Kathleen. “Gender and the Biological Sciences” Canadian Journal of
Philosophy. Supplementary Vol. 20; 1994.
11. Richard Dawkins, The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution. Free Press;
2010.