Humanities 399: Science in the Ancient
Context
360 Condon MWF 12.00-12.50
Malcolm Wilson 815 PLC 346-4155 mwilson@darkwing.uoregon.edu
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mwilson/Homepage.html
Aims of the Course
One of man's greatest cultural traditions has been
the practice of
systematic knowledge, its discovery and exposition. In this
respect
the Greek accomplishment is truly breathtaking. Though the Greeks
and
their Roman and Arabic successors did not develop the full-blown modern
practice of science, almost all of the individual modern techniques are
attested and discussed.
This course will explore the subject, practice and
social place of
science in the ancient world. In addition to the study of
specific
scientific notions, theories and discoveries, we shall consider the
philosophical (epistemological and metaphysical), and social
(political, religious) underpinnings of early science. The
students
will gain insight into the historical situation of modern science and
specific intellectual activities from which it arose.
We will be reading the ancient texts in translation,
and though we
will also be using a handbook, the students will have a relatively
unmediated experience of ancient scientific practice.
Evaluation
There will be a class
project (20%), a term paper (30%) and a final
exam (50%).
Reading List
David C. Lindberg. The Beginnings of Western Science.
Chicago, 1992.
Irmy-Massou, Keasey. Greek Science of the Hellenistic Era.
Routledge, 2002.
Web resources
Week 1 Jan 3-7 Introduction
A. Introduction: a class discussion on the nature of
science
B. Introduction
Read: Lindberg ch. 1 Science and its Origins
C. Wisdom,
Philosophy and Science
Primitive
Thought
Week 2 Jan 10-14 Mathematics (and Theology)
A. Early and
Pythagorean Mathematics
Pythagorean
material
B. PROBLEMS:
a) Doubling the square: Plato's
Meno
b) Archytas;
doubling the cube
Week 3 Jan 17-21 Mathematical
Method and Axiomatics
Week 4 Jan 24-28 Astronomy
Early and
Hellenistic Astronomy
The
Ptolemaic System
Week 5 Jan 31-Feb 4 Mixed Sciences
Theory
of Mathematics; Mechanics: Power Point Presentation
Theory
of Mathematics; Mechanics: HTML
Optics
and Astrology
Week 6 Feb 7-11 Physical Sciences
PreSocratic
physics
Plato’s
Timaeus
Webtext
Aristotelian
conception of nature
Week 7 Feb 14-18 Physical Sciences continued
Alchemy and
Meteorology
GS ch. 9 pp. 226
Week 8 Feb. 21-25 Biology
A.
Theories of life
Reproduction: epigenesis vs.
pangenesis
B. Biological works and organization
Aristotle's History of
Animals and Parts of Animals
C. Theophrastus and the later tradition
Week 9 Feb 28- Mar 4 Medicine
A. Hippocratic Corpus: Lecture
Airs,
Waters, Places 1-8
On Ancient
Medicine
Epidemics
I. 1-2
Oath
B. Hellenistic
Medicine and Galen
Week 10 Mar 7-11 Psychology
A. Aristotle de Anima and PN
B. Hellenistic Psychology
GS 331
C. Wrap-up
Some Project Suggestions
Projects – sunsets on western horizon
Eratosthenes
orrery
Triangulation of ships
Make a eudoxan concentric planet
Do a history of an illness