136-338 The Scientific Revolution (Science 3)

Only available at science third year. For other levels, see 136-038 The Scientific Revolution. Students cannot gain credit for both this subject and 136-224/324 before 1998 or 136-038 after 1998. This subject is based on 136-038 but involves additional work.

Two second-year HPS subjects.

This unit surveys a constellation of important changes in the thinking of educated people in 17th century Europe, a group of changes commonly referred to as 'The Scientific Revolution'. Students examine: the official philosophy of the middle ages, scholasticism, and its notion that material objects were innately active; the appeal of alternative 17th century views of the matter as utterly passive; Descartes' mechanical philosophy; the Newtonian retreat from extreme mechanism; the impact of sceptical attacks on the reliability of human reason; the acceptance of a science that was self-confessedly tentative and hypothetical. Throughout the unit, the complexity of the processes governing the acceptance of a philosophy of nature is emphasised; and our discussion is placed into its broader contexts with religious and political connections repeatedly perused.

• develop skills in written and oral communication;

• conduct independent research;

• make appropriate use of primary and secondary sources in mounting an argument;

• form defensible judgements based on a critical evaluation of conflicting evidence.

One 2000-word essay 30% (due just after mid-semester), two 1-hour written class tests 10% each (one mid-semester, one late in the semester), and a 3-hour written examination 50% (during the examination period).