An introduction to the ideas, processes and consequences of science through history. The historical development of philosophies of science will be central throughout. Critical reasoning and extensive writing will be required. Contextual cultural analysis is expected. Credit may be earned for only one of the following: HIST 5 or PHILO 5. (UC/CSU)
Lecture 3 hours 3 UNITS

Section 1: Introduction

Wk 1: Introduction

Wk 2: Truth/ Empirical Facts and Philosophical/Conceptual "Facts"

Wk 3: Confirming and Disconfirming Evidence and Reasoning/ The Quine-Duhem Thesis and Scientific Method

Wk 4: Problems and Puzzles of Induction/ Falsifiability

Wk 5: Instrumentalism/Realism



Section 2: The Aristotelians to Mechanism

Wk 6: Pre-Socratic Philosophers

Wk 7: Aristotle

Wk 8: The Great Astronomers

Wk 9: Galileo

Wk 10: Descartes



Section 3: From Newton to Contemporary Science

Wk 11: Newton

Wk 12: Evolution

Wk 13: Relativity

Wk 14: Quantum Physics

Wk 15: Computing

Wk 16: Finals