2024 Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
History of Science C
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Yoshimi Takuwa
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Mon / 3-4 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.T302
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 14, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This lecture traces the history of science from ancient times to the early 20th century by viewing experimental and observational instruments.
In particular, each class focuses on a single scientific instrument, explains its development and each phase’s experimental/observational accuracy, and related discoveries. Students will consider why they conduct experiments and observations and why they can trust and accept experimental/observational results by learning about Aristotle’s deductive method, Francis Bacon’s inductive method based on experiments, and the formation of experimentalism societies.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand the origin of experiments and observations.
2) Have their own opinions on why they conduct experiments and observations and why they can trust and accept experimental/observational results.
Keywords
History of Science, History of Philosophy, experiment, observation, scientific instrument
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
A theme (an instrument) will be discussed in each class.
Students discuss the theme and read materials aloud in turn with a group.
Should the number of applicants for this course exceed the limit, a lottery system will be used to determine which students are admitted. Be sure to attend the first class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Guidance: Introduction to the history of ‘experiments’ | Understand what the discipline of the history of science is. |
| Class 2 | Observing | Understand Aristotle’s concept of observation. |
| Class 3 | Viewing | Understand Euclid’s concept of optics. |
| Class 4 | Measuring | Understand the history of measurement. |
| Class 5 | Slopes and pendulums | Understand Galilei’s experiments on slopes and pendulums. |
| Class 6 | Eye glasses | Understand the appearance of eye glasses and optical instruments. |
| Class 7 | Telescopes | Understand the development of telescopes. |
| Class 8 | Presentation of midterm report | Peer review activities to improve report. |
| Class 9 | Air pumps | Understand Boyle’s experiments on air pumps. |
| Class 10 | Glass prisms | Understand Newton’s experiments on glass prisms. |
| Class 11 | Microscopes | Understand Hooke’s observations on microscopes. |
| Class 12 | Shape of the Earth | Understand the controversy about the shape of the Earth. |
| Class 13 | Handling experimental data | Understanding scientists’ misconduct on experimental data. |
| Class 14 | Presentation of final report | Peer review activities to improve report. |
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)
None required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Reference books will be informed during the lecture.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Engagement to the class (attendance and short reports) 50 %, Final report 50%
Related courses
- LAH.T102 ： History of Science A
- LAH.T302 ： History of Science C
- LAH.T103 ： History of Technology A
- LAH.T203 ： History of Technology B
- LAH.T303 ： History of Technology C
- LAH.T204 ： Special Lecture: History of Universities
Prerequisites
Mainly use materials and videos translated in Japanese and partially use videos in English.
It is preferable to have intermediate-level capacity for reading Japanese and elementary-level capacity for listening to English.
Other
Should the number of applicants for this course exceed the limit, a lottery system will be used to determine which students are admitted. Be sure to attend the first class.