Episodes in the History of Science I (HIST 315)

2021 Spring
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
History(HIST)
3
6
Harun Bekir Küçük harunkucuk@sabanciuniv.edu,
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English
Undergraduate
SPS101 SPS102
Formal lecture,Seminar
Discussion based learning
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CONTENT

The course will begin with a quick survey of history of science from Antiquity to the present. It will then concentrate on the main aim, which is to try to have a better understanding of the emergence of the new science in central and western Europe following the Renaissance era. What are the cultural and social factors which helped this breakthrough, how did the results affect people's lifestyles and political views, and why did it take so many centuries for the scientific method to penetrate the Ottoman realm? These and other subjects will be discussed in a collective manner, many items will be assigned to students for deeper study, and new findings will bring important contributions to our understanding.

OBJECTIVE

This course is an attempt to furnish the students with a basic literacy in the primary and secondary sources in the history of science. We will be looking at key periods, figures and texts in order to develop a first-order narrative understanding of the history of science while also discussing certain key themes and issues in the historiography of science. The final goal is to situate science, past and present, in the respective societies, cultures and locales where it thrived or survived as a human activity.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

  • Basic literacy in the history and historiography of science from antiquity to the Renaissance.

PROGRAMME OUTCOMES


1. Understand the world, their country, their society, as well as themselves and have awareness of ethical problems, social rights, values and responsibility to the self and to others. 5

2. Understand different disciplines from natural and social sciences to mathematics and art, and develop interdisciplinary approaches in thinking and practice. 5

3. Think critically, follow innovations and developments in science and technology, demonstrate personal and organizational entrepreneurship and engage in life-long learning in various subjects; have the ability to continue to educate him/herself. 5

4. Communicate effectively in Turkish and English by oral, written, graphical and technological means. 3

5. Take individual and team responsibility, function effectively and respectively as an individual and a member or a leader of a team; and have the skills to work effectively in multi-disciplinary teams. 1


1. Develop knowledge of theories, concepts, and research methods in humanities and social sciences. 5

2. Assess how global, national and regional developments affect society. 4

3. Know how to access and evaluate data from various sources of information. 5


1. Understand and follow changes in patterns of political behavior, ideas and structures. 4

2. Develop the ability to make logical inferences about social and political issues on the basis of comparative and historical knowledge. 4

ASSESSMENT METHODS and CRITERIA

  Percentage (%)
Final 40
Midterm 30
Participation 20
Written Report 10

RECOMENDED or REQUIRED READINGS

Readings

David Lindberg, The Beginnings of Western Science, 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2008.
Dimitri Gutas, Greek Thought, Arab Culture. London; New York: Routledge, 1998.
Thomas Kuhn, The Copernican Revolution. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 1957 (in print)
Additional primary sources