Physics 361: Science and Culture What is this course about anyways?

Thematic divisions In the first segment we focus on the development of science and scientific inquiry as an independent discipline. In the first segment we focus on the development of science and scientific inquiry as an independent discipline. In the second segment the focus is on the development of a new cosmological model (esp in physics and astronomy). In the second segment the focus is on the development of a new cosmological model (esp in physics and astronomy). In the third segment attention turns to relationship between humans, science, and the environment. In the third segment attention turns to relationship between humans, science, and the environment.

Questions I  How does culture affect scientific discovery?  How does scientific discovery affect culture?  How are these connected? and what are the limitations to this kind of feedback?  How does society cope with scientific ideas that appear to be counter-intuitive?

Questions II  Why should society support science?  What is the economic price of knowledge acquisition? If its too high what do we do?  How can cultural change be measured and explained?  What is the “Truth” and who is its gatekeeper?  What happens when the “Truth” is unacceptable to the masses?

Questions III What is the connection between Science and Religion? What is the connection between Science and Religion? Is science a system of belief? Is science a system of belief? Is religion a science? Is religion a science? What does it mean when we claim to find order in nature? What does it mean when we claim to find order in nature? Is nature really ordered or are we forcing it to appear that way so that we can explain it ? Is nature really ordered or are we forcing it to appear that way so that we can explain it ?

Sub Texts Issues that will permeate throughout the course but may not be addressed explicitly Issues that will permeate throughout the course but may not be addressed explicitly Cooperation versus Competition as the means to achieve the ideal state/government Cooperation versus Competition as the means to achieve the ideal state/government Why do we so easily treat nature as a consumable? Why do we so easily treat nature as a consumable? Is there a difference between humans and animals? Is there a difference between humans and animals?

More Sub Texts Why do we require certainty in order to make decisions? Why do we require certainty in order to make decisions? What’s wrong with a purely empirical approach? What’s wrong with a purely empirical approach? Has anything really changed for 10,000 years in terms of human behavior and human/institutional structures? Has anything really changed for 10,000 years in terms of human behavior and human/institutional structures? Has science ever impacted the way in which society functions? Has science ever impacted the way in which society functions? What does it mean to be ‘enlightened’? What does it mean to be ‘enlightened’?