Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Science
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136 History and Philosophy of Science

• Overview
• Suggested subjects
  • 100 and 200 Level Subjects
  • 300-Level Subjects
• Admission Requirements for Bachelor of Science (Honours) in History and Philosophy of Science
• Subject Descriptions
• BSc (Honours) in History and Philosophy of Science

Overview

Science studies Nature: HPS studies Science.

The Department of History and Philosophy of Science studies science by asking such questions as:

• If science tells the truth, why do scientists sometimes say one thing (for example, dinosaurs were cold-blooded) and then later say the opposite (dinosaurs were warm-blooded)?
• What determines which diseases are given priority in medical research?
• Can science usefully work with aboriginal beliefs about nature to better conserve the environment?
• Is it really true that people in medieval Europe believed the earth was flat?
• When science and religion disagree, which should we believe?
• Have many scientific theories have been biased against women, religious, or racial minorities?
• Are science students well trained to think for themselves or are they just trained to apply the current popular scientific theories?
• How much influence in society should scientists have?

Suggested subjects

100 and 200 Level Subjects

All 100 and 200 level subjects are available to science students without prerequisites, although for enrolment in 200 level subjects it is generally required that you have completed at least 60 points consisting of any 100-level subjects.

300-Level Subjects

Students majoring in HPS should select at least one 300 level subject from 136-321, 136-340, 136-341. [Note that these do have preprequisites] In combination with two other 200 or 300 level courses this will be deemed an HPS major. Students taking this option should enrol in 136-345, not in individual subjects.

300 level subjects are available to science students not majoring in HPS on completion of prerequisites. You must take these subjects at the 200 level, with the exception of 332.

Admission Requirements for Bachelor of Science (Honours) in History and Philosophy of Science

Before entering the Honours year candidates will be expected to have:

• completed introductory subjects in both History and Philosophy of Science, including one 100 or 200 level philosophy of science subject and one 100 or 200 level subject from history or social studies of science/technology.
• have also completed 136-345 or its equivalent [including at least one of 136-321, 136-340 and 136-341]
• have shown Honours ability: a minimum of H2B standard calculated from the best 5 HPS subjects completed at 2nd and 3rd year level.

Subject Descriptions

• 136-101 History of Astronomy (First semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-102 Darwinism: Man, Woman and Nature in the History of Biology (Second semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-103 Human Values, Social Change and New Technologies (First semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-105 Science, Philosophy and History (Second semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-202 Science, Reason and Reality (Second semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-203 Science, Life and Mind (First semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-206 Gender, Science and Technology (First semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-220 Philosophy of Science (First semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-222 Issues in the Modern Life Sciences (Second semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-224 The Scientific Revolution (First semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-225 Social History of Medicine (Second semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-226 Science, Technology and Society (First semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-227 History of Australian Science (Second semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-229 Upheavals in Scientific Thought (Second semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-238 Current Issues in the History and Philosophy of Science (Second semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-321 Science As Practice, Culture and Politics (Double semester.)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-332 Biology in Modern Society (Second semester)
• 436-333 History of Technology (Double semester.)
  Offered by Faculty of Engineering (Mechanical & Manuf. Eng).
• 136-339 Philosophy of Mathematics (First semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-340 Advanced Topics in the Philosophy of Science (First semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-341 Approaches To the History of Science (Double semester.)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-342 Directed Study (First and/or second semester)
  Offered by Faculty of Arts (History & Phil'y of Sci.).
• 136-345 History and Philosophy of Science (Science) (First and/or second semester)

BSc (Honours) in History and Philosophy of Science

Note: 136-496 and 136-497 must be taken concurrently. To complete the Honours program in HPS, students must obtain passes of 65% or better in both 136-496 and 136-497

• 136-496 Hps Research Project (33.3 Points)
• 136-497 Hps Advanced Coursework (66.7 Points)

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Handbook 1996 : Faculty of Science

Status:          Official 1996
Date created:    Oct 10 1995
Last modified:   Oct 10 1995
Authorised by:   Academic Registrar
Email enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au

Copyright © University of Melbourne 1995,1996.