LBST 304 - Summer 2007 - Page 1 of 4Liberal Studies 304Science in the Modern WorldProf. Craig McConnell • Summer 2007This course examines the content and culture of the natural sciences in the modern period. Content will include relativity theory, quantum theory, nuclear physics, the standard model inparticle physics, advances in astrophysics and cosmology, genetics, the evolutionary synthesis,molecular biology, and work on genome sequences. As these bodies of knowledge areexamined, we will also consider the culture of science, individual and collective styles ofworking in science, the role of the scientist in the culture at large, and the larger cultural andphilosophical relevance of scientific knowledge.In the course of the semester, you will be exposed to the core concepts of modern science, youwill be introduced to a number of perspectives from which science can be studied, and you willcritically discuss the content and the context of modern science. Schedule of Topics and Reading Assignments May 29 Introductions, Course Themes May 30 Thomas Kuhn and the Structure of Scientific RevolutionsRead G Kuhn IG Kuhn IIG Kuhn III-IVG Kuhn V__ Hazen and Trefil, Introduction & Ch. 1May 31 Read G Kuhn VI-VIIIG Kuhn IX-XG Kuhn XI-XIII__ Hazen and Trefil, 2-4June 5 Paul Feyerabend Against MethodRead G Feyerabend 1-3G Feyerabend 4-6G Feyerabend 7-8__ Hazen and Trefil, 5-6June 6 Read G Feyerabend 9-11G Feyerabend 12-13G Feyerabend 14-15June 7 Exam ILBST 304 - Summer 2007 - Page 2 of 4June 12 Ernst Mayr and the Philosophy of BiologyRead G Mayr 1G Mayr 2G Mayr 3June 13 Read G Mayr 4G Mayr 5G Mayr 6__ Hazen and Trefil, 15-16June 14 Read G Mayr 7G Mayr 8G Mayr 9__ Hazen and Trefil, 17-18June 19 Molecular BiologyRead G Kay 1G Kay 2G Kay 3June 20 Read G Kay 4G Kay 5G Kay 6G Kay 7June 21 Exam IIJune 26 Particle PhysicsRead G Galison 1G Galison 2__ Hazen & Trefil 8-9June 27 Read G Galison 4G Galison 5.1__ Hazen & Trefil 12June 28 Read G Galison 5.2G Galison 6July 3 Read G Galison 8G Galison 9July 4 Independence Day – Campus ClosedJuly 5 Exam IIIContact Information:I am here to help you do well in this course. I am available to help you during office hours andby appointment. Don’t hesitate to ask for an appointment—problems are easiest to resolve whenthey are brought up early. Don’t feel like you need to have a problem in hand to come see me. Office: H 223C Office Hours: by appointmentOffice Phone: (714) 278-3935 (24-hour voice mail)email: [email protected] resources: http://faculty.fullerton.edu/cmcconnell/304/TResources.htmLBST 304 - Summer 2007 - Page 3 of 4Required Texts:Robert Hazen and James Trefil, Science Matters (Doubleday, 1991).Thomas Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (Chicago, 3rd ed., 1996).Paul Feyerabend, Against Method (Verso, 3rd ed., 1993).Ernst Mayr, This is Biology (Harvard, 1997).Lily Kay, Who Wrote the Book of Life? (Stanford, 2000).Peter Galison, Image and Logic (Chicago, 1997).Assessment:Each student’s performance will be assessed in three distinct ways: § 1. Reading Journal Entries. For each reading assignment listed above that is markedwith a box (G), you will prepare a reading journal. A blank form is available fordownload at the course web site. Read the accompanying guidelines (available onthe web, and on page 4 of the syllabus) carefully. Your grade will be lowered ifyour journal entries are late, incomplete, or hand-written. If using a wordprocessor for this assignment is a logistical problem, it is your responsibility todiscuss this with me before drop date. Your journal entries will make up 30% ofyour final grade. § 2. Exams. Three times in the course of the semester, you will write an examcomprised of short answer and essay questions based on our shared reading anddiscussions. Each exam will make up 15% of your final grade. § 3. Class Participation. Your contribution to the learning community includes activeengagement during our classroom discussions of assigned reading. Activeparticipation in all facets of the course will make up 25% of your final grade. Final grades submitted to the registrar will include +/- as appropriate. There are no extra creditoptions in this course.For computational purposes, A+ = 98-100, A = 93-97, A- = 90-92, B+= 88-89, B = 83-87, B- = 80-82, C+= 78-79, C = 73-77, C- = 70-72, D = 60-69, F = 0-59.Absenteeism:The purpose of this course is to expose you to a variety of perspectives and issues incontemporary science. Many of our discussions will rest on foundations built in earlier sessions.Excessive absenteeism will be disruptive to your ability to integrate the material presented.LBST 304 - Summer 2007 - Page 4 of 4Guidelines for Preparing Journal Entries:Download the blank form (A Microsoft Word document) from the course web site. You will prepare a separate entry for each reading assignment on the syllabus indicated with anopen box (G); do not need prepare entries for reading assignments marked with a blank (__). 1. Be sure to replace the italicized text with the appropriate information. 2. Do not change the font (Times New Roman, 12) or the size of the boxes. 3. Be sure that the entry prints onto one page.Your reading journal should serve three purposes: 1. It should help you read more carefully. 2. It should help you come to class prepared to take an active role in our discussions. 3. It should help you convince me that you’ve done a careful job of reading. (This shouldn't beyour primary concern, but you should keep it in mind while preparing your entries).To that end, please take careful note of the following guidelines: 1. You are to prepare these journals alone. You may not collaborate with your classmates whenpreparing your journal. 2. You are to write them exclusively in your voice. You may not quote from the book that youare reading. You may not use outside resources (book reviews, published summaries, websites, etc.). 3. For full credit, they need to be typed, on time, complete, and thoughtful.Academic IntegrityIt is your responsibility to review the CSUF policy on academic dishonesty, which is printed onpage 558 of the 2005-2007 Catalog and available on the web at the following site:http://www.fullerton.edu/senate/PDF/300/UPS300-021.pdfPlagiarism will not be tolerated. If you are unsure of how to avoid plagiarism, come talk to meor refer to the following web