2020 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Social and Human Sciences Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
Graduate Lecture in Science, Technology and Society F1A
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Social and Human Sciences
- Instructor(s)
- Yoshimi Takuwa
- Class Format
- Lecture (Zoom)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Fri (Zoom)
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- SHS.S443
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2020
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This lecture traces the history of science from ancient times to the late 17th century by viewing the descriptions of the Scientific Revolution.
Students will examine the differences of the descriptions in these materials and consider how the Scientific Revolution is accepted by scholars.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand the origin of science and scientific activities, and their changes.
2) Have their own opinions on the descriptions of history: looking at the past as the origin of the present, or looking at things which had value at the time.
Keywords
History of Science, History of Philosophy, Scientist, Society
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Each class starts with student presentation on the material allocated, then we move on discussion.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Two Styles of Learning | Understand what the tradition of 'science' is. |
| Class 2 | The Emergence of Paradigm | Understand Kuhn’s Paradigm theory and Scientific Revolutions. |
| Class 3 | Paper, Printing, and the Maturing Traditions | Understand 'science' in the medieval period. |
| Class 4 | Scholarly Journals, Learned Societies, and the Rise of Modern Science | Understand the origin of scientific societies and academies. |
| Class 5 | A Century of Professional Specialization | Understand the emergence of professional scientists. |
| Class 6 | The transplantation of Modern Science | Understand 'science' in developing countries. |
| Class 7 | Subsequent changes in a later edition (supplemental chapter) | Have their own opinions on the descriptions of history. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Shigeru Nakayama, Academic and Scientific Traditions in China, Japan, and the West (University of Tokyo Press, 1984).
This book is a translation of Rekishi toshite no gakumon in 1974 and has been republished as Paradigm to kagaku-kakumei no rekishi (The History of Paradigm and Scientific Revolutions) with new supplemental chapter in 2013.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
H. F. Cohen, The Rise of Modern Science Explained: A Comparative History (Cambridge: Cambridge University Pres, 2015).
Evaluation methods and criteria
Engagement to the class (attendance and presentation) 80 %, Final report 20 %
Related courses
- LAH.T102 ： History of Science A
- LAH.T202 ： History of Science B
- LAH.T302 ： History of Science C
- LAH.S433 ： Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences37:History of Science
- LAH.T420 ： Transdisciplinary studies20 :Mathematics Learn from History
Prerequisites
Mainly use materials written in English.
It is preferable to have intermediate-level capacity for reading English.
Other
Topics may be changed according to the students who attend.