History of Science: From Aristotle to Newton (HIS2254.01)

Carol Pal

History tells us that humans have always wondered about the natural world. For thousands of years, our ancestors gazed in wonder at the heavens, experimented with plants and medicines, and tried to comprehend their own mortality. But when did “science” actually begin to be its own field, separate from philosophy, astrology, or faith? Beginning with human origins and prehistoric tools, we turn to the astronomical achievements of the Mayans and Aztecs, the advanced science of early China and the Islamic world, and the murky intricacies of alchemy and magic. We end with the Scientific Revolution, when the world-changing ideas of Copernicus, Galileo, Bacon, Harvey, and Newton gave birth to our modern scientific method.

Learning Outcomes:
Students taking this course will engage with the joy of doing good history. Specifically, they will:
1. Learn about one facet of the mutlifaceted, neverending, and eternally surprising realities of the past;
2. Learn how to respectfully analyze historical facts and documents through an understanding of those who made them; and
3. Learn how to express those respectful analyses in writing.

Delivery Method: Fully in-person
Course Level: 2000-level
Credits: 4
T/F 2:10PM - 4:00PM (Full-term)
Maximum Enrollment: 20
Course Frequency: Every 2-3 years

Categories: All courses , History , Fully In-Person
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