Descriptif
Teacher: Laurent Loison
DR CNRS, SPHERE, Paris (UMR 7219)
This course is a general introduction to the history of science. It has two main objectives. The first is to make accessible the rise of scientific rationality from ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt to the recent advent of molecular biology. With this in mind, particular attention will be paid to certain key moments such as the Galilean and the Darwinian revolutions. The second is to offer an epistemological reflection on the nature of the scientific activity. From this perspective, the issue of finality and finalism will be the major guideline. The aim is to understand how and why the empirical sciences (whose object is to understand natural phenomena, i.e. physics, chemistry, biology, etc.) have succeeded in producing non-finalist explanations.
Objectifs pédagogiques
On completion of the course, students will be able:
- to place the major moments in the history of science in their chronological context, from ancient times to the present day
- to geographically locate the places where knowledge emerged, from Mesopotamia and the Greek world to the Western laboratories where molecular biology was developed
- to understand what makes scientific activity unique, due to its (quantitative) methods and the (conceptual) form of the explanations it produces about the world
effectifs minimal / maximal:
1/32Diplôme(s) concerné(s)
Pour les étudiants du diplôme Bachelor of Science de l'Ecole polytechnique
None
Format des notes
Numérique sur 20Littérale/grade réduitPour les étudiants du diplôme Bachelor of Science de l'Ecole polytechnique
Vos modalités d'acquisition :
- Assessment no. 1: coursework test (approx. 10 questions), in class (50%)
- Assessment no. 2: course test (approx. 10 questions), in class (50%)
- Catch-up: essay to be handed in through Turnitin on Moodle.
- Crédits ECTS acquis : 2 ECTS
La note obtenue rentre dans le calcul de votre GPA.
Programme détaillé
- Science before science. The empirical knowledge of the Egyptians and Mesopotamians in ancient times
- Pre-Socratic philosophers and the invention of “Nature”
- Aristotle’s cosmos
- Aristotle’s cosmos challenged
- Rebuilding physics: Galileo
- Successful “mechanism” in the life sciences: Harvey and blood circulation
- Unsuccessful “mechanism” in the life sciences: where does the animal-machine come from?
- Explaining organic adaptation mechanically: natural selection
- Explaining organic development mechanically: the genetic program
Mots clés
history of science; epistemology; scientific method; mechanicism; finalismMéthodes pédagogiques
lecturesSupport pédagogique multimédia
