Department of History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine

This is an introductory course designed for all students with an interest in the history of the sciences and their cultural contexts. We will cover select topics from Greek to early modern science, emphasizing both primary sources and contemporary historiographical debates. The course will pay particular attention to a number of figures, including Vesalius, Galileo, Descartes, and Newton. We will include aspects of natural philosophy, astronomy, the medical disciplines, and the development of experiment. Students from a broad variety of backgrounds will be welcome and their varied expertise in the science, humanities, or languages will be valued highly. This is an introductory course designed for all students with an interest in the history of the sciences and their cultural contexts. We will cover select topics from Greek to early modern science, emphasizing both primary sources and contemporary historiographical debates. The course will pay particular attention to a number of figures, including Vesalius, Galileo, Descartes, and Newton. We will include aspects of natural philosophy, astronomy, the medical disciplines, and the development of experiment. Students from a broad variety of backgrounds will be welcome and their varied expertise in the science, humanities, or languages will be valued highly.