Sections of this course examine the history and conceptualization of science, the cosmos, or the environment and their relationships to society and culture. The term science is understood broadly to include not only modern science but pre-modern and non-western approaches to understanding and manipulating the natural world. Historians focus on the human history of the environment, with a particular attention to the ever-changing relationship between societies and their ecosystems. Possible areas of exploration might include: the scientific revolution; North-American environmental history; global commodities, imperialism and the environment; and science, magic, and rationality. With reference to historical examples, these courses will seek to nuance concepts such as scientific rationality, and ânatureâ and also to examine broad conventional historical narratives such as âdisenchantmentâ, âenlightenmentâ, âindustrializationâ or âglobalizationâ. Weekly hours: 2 Lecture hours and 1 Seminar/Discussion hoursAttention:A maximum of nine credit units Note: Students may not take this course more than once for credit, even if the specific focus is different. Note: Multiple sections of this course may be offered in the same term, each with a different focus. Consult the CRN for each section of the class in the Class Search to find its specific focus. The History Departmentâs annual handbook (on the department homepage) also contains this information.
Sections of this course examine the history and conceptualization of science, the cosmos, or the environment and their relationships to society and culture. The term science is understood broadly to include not only modern science but pre-modern and non-western approaches to understanding and manipulating the natural world. Historians focus on the human history of the environment, with a particular attention to the ever-changing relationship between societies and their ecosystems. Possible areas of exploration might include: the scientific revolution; North-American environmental history; global commodities, imperialism and the environment; and science, magic, and rationality. With reference to historical examples, these courses will seek to nuance concepts such as scientific rationality, and ânatureâ and also to examine broad conventional historical narratives such as âdisenchantmentâ, âenlightenmentâ, âindustrializationâ or âglobalizationâ. Weekly hours: 2 Lecture hours and 1 Seminar/Discussion hoursAttention:A maximum of nine credit units Note: Students may not take this course more than once for credit, even if the specific focus is different. Note: Multiple sections of this course may be offered in the same term, each with a different focus. Consult the CRN for each section of the class in the Class Search to find its specific focus. The History Departmentâs annual handbook (on the department homepage) also contains this information.
