16.7 2nd and 3rd years Dr Homer Le Grand. Normally 12.5 points of first-year HPS. Second semester Up to three hours of lectures, seminars or tutorials a week. Students completing this subject should develop:

• detailed knowledge of both philosophical and sociological frameworks for the analysis of cumulative and revolutionary change in science;
• practice in applying these frameworks to historical and contemporary instances of scientific change;
• skills in the critical analysis of scientific publications;
• improved written and oral communicative skills.

Historical, philosophical and sociological aspects of revolutions in scientific thought. Case studies to be examined include the 'modern revolution' in the earth sciences and the on-going controversy about the 'death of the dinosaurs'. A 3-hour examination at the end of the second semester. Exemption may be earned by satisfactory performance on prescribed written work (1 essay of 1,500 words 30 per cent; 1 essay 2,500 words 45 per cent, tutorial exercises 25 per cent) not exceeding 5,000 words. Kuhn TS The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Riggs P The Whys and Ways of Science. Le Grand H Drifting Continents and Shifting Theories. Hallam A Great Geological Controversies. 16.7 Prof H Le Grand Second semester 26 lectures (two a week) and 13 tutorials (one a week) Students completing this subject should :

• develop a detailed knowledge of both philosophical and sociological frameworks for the analysis of cumulative and revolutionary change in science;
• gain practice in applying these frameworks to historical and contemporary instances of scientific change;
• develop skills in the critical analysis of scientific publications;
• improve written and oral communicative skills.

Historical, philosophical and sociological aspects of revolutions in scientific thought. Case studies to be examined include the "modern revolution" in the earth sciences and the on-going controversy about the "death of the dinosaurs". 3-hour examination at the end of the second semester. Exemption may be earned by satisfactory performance on prescribed written work (1 essay of 1,500 words 30 per cent, 1 essay 2,500 words 45per cent, tutorial exercises 25per cent) not exceeding 5,000 words. Kuhn T S The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Riggs P The Whys and Ways of Science Le Grand H Drifting Continents and Shifting Theories Hallam A Great Geological Controversies