2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Philosophy of Science A
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Wakako Tagoyama
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.T106
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
・This course focuses on various methodologies of science in the 16th and 17th centuries in Europe, from the point of view of the history of science and ideas, including the history of Christianity & the history of philosophy.
・This course covers key concepts or themes of modern science (the laws of nature, the relation between experiment and experience, empiricism, mechanical naturalism, inductive method, time and space, premodern Christianity etc.), and it gives an overview of cultural/historical background of the relation between science and religion.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) understand these concepts of premodern scientific methodologies aforementioned,
2) explain their common cultural and historical background.
Keywords
History of science and ideas, laws of nature, experience, experiment, empiricism, early modern science, the Protestant Reformation, the relationship between science and religion
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
In the last 20-30 minutes of each class, students should summarize topics of the class and hand in the worksheet through e-mail. If they have time, they can add their opinions or questions there.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction: current research on the relationship between premodern science and religion, The concept of the laws of nature 1 | understand the meaning of learning premodern natural science in the context of Christianity. understand the source of the concept of 'laws of nature' as a central methodological role in the premodern natural science |
| Class 2 | The concept of laws of nature 2 | understand the source of the concept of 'laws of nature' which appeared in the 17th century as a central methodological role in the premodern natural science. |
| Class 3 | What is ‘empiricism'? | understand the concept of premodern 'experience' as regards to the concept of experiment and the concept of scientific discovery |
| Class 4 | Mechanical Naturalism 1 | understand the concept of mechanical naturalism which was one of facets of the concept of experience in the premodern natural science |
| Class 5 | Mechanical Naturalism 2, induction method | understand design theory as a result of the mechanical naturalism, understand induction method |
| Class 6 | premodern scientific thought and Christianity | understand Christianity which had an impact on the premodern scientific thought |
| Class 7 | time and space, conclusion | understand various theories about space and time, especially Newton's theory and Leibniz's. understand the theme of this course and prepare term papers. |
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 that by referring to course materials.
Textbook(s)
none required
Reference books, course materials, etc.
course materials will be handed out in school hours
Evaluation methods and criteria
Student's course scores are based on term examination (80%) and exercises (active participation and submission of papers) (20%). Term examination will be administered at the end of the term. Active participation and full submission are compulsory. The instructor may fail examinee if he/she repeatedly is absent from class or comes to delay in submission.
Related courses
- LAH.T102 ： History of Science A
- LAH.T202 ： History of Science B
- LAH.T302 ： History of Science C
Prerequisites
non prerequisites