Ronald C. Pine, Ph.D.
Bldg. 7, Rm. 625
845-9163(& voice mail)
pine@hcc.hawaii.edu
Home Page

Course Title: Cosmology: Science and the Human Prospect

Prerequisite:  Since this course meets the guidelines of a writing-intensive course, English 100 is a prerequisite. Word processing skills are essential.

General Education area: Diversification in Humanities

Science and the Human Prospect, by Ronald C. Pine
The Fabric of the Cosmos: Space, Time, and the Texture of Reality, by Brian Greene

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

An interdisciplinary study of science and philosophy from a humanistic perspective. A scientific description of the Universe and its constituents, and its implications for human life will be discussed. Also, the central philosophical problems of cosmology will be discussed: The problem of understanding the world, including ourselves, and our knowledge, as part of the world.

Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes:  Students will demonstrate in college level writing

• an understanding of historical and philosophical perspectives on the human relationship to the Universe.
  
 
• an understanding of the different cosmologies of Western culture, i.e., the Aristotelian-Ptolemaic, Copernican-Newtonian, 20th-21st century.
  
 
• an understanding of the scientific method by surveying its modern results and studying its historical development.
  
 
• an understanding of the basic issues of philosophy of science, including the central philosophical problem of cosmology -- the problem of understanding the world, and our knowledge, as part of the world.

COURSE PURPOSE:

This course is an interdisciplinary study of science and philosophy from a humanistic perspective. Its aim is to have students appreciate the vastness of the Universe and the wonder of its parts, and the philosophical significance of this for improving the quality of human life. A theme of the joy and seemingly limitless growth potential of human intelligence will be emphasized. The goal will not be a complete understanding in detail of every scientific topic discussed. It is not intended to replace introductory courses in Astronomy, Biology, and Physics. The goal is to impart to the student a "feel" for the scientific method and an appreciation for the scientific endeavor. It will present the worldview of the modern science and discuss the implications of this view for the human prospect. It is an attempt to present the Big Picture in order that we may better understand ourselves and appreciate what is truly human and valuable.

COURSE CONTENT:

The course is a general survey one. The method used will be to approach the study of science and the results of science from a philosophical perspective, such that the most important topics in science and many traditional topics in philosophy and intellectual history are discussed simultaneously. Accordingly, the following will be covered.

A. Science:

• Astrophysical theories on the origin and structure of the Universe; the Universe and its parts: planets, stars, galaxies, galaxy clusters, black holes, etc.
  
 
• Darwin's theory of natural selection, DNA, and the life of a cell.
  
 
• The scientific method and the history of science.
  
 
• Newtonian physics and modern science: Relativity theory, Quantum physics, and String Theory.
  
 
• The possibility of extraterrestrial life and communication.
  
 
• The Human Brain, intelligence, convergent and divergent evolution.

B. Philosophy:

• Metaphysics, Cosmology, and Epistemology.
  
 
• The Hypothetical-Deductive method and its problems. The problem of induction.
  
 
• Questions of discovery and justification. The line of demarcation between philosophy, religion, and science.
  
 
• The Presocratics, Sophists, and Greek Philosophy. Plato and mathematics.
  
 
• Realism and Instrumentalism and the status of scientific theories. Paradigms and issues of objectivity/subjectivity.
  
 
• Immanuel Kant and categories of experience.
  
 
• Modern Science and Eastern philosophy.
  
 
• The Mind-Body problem.

             One 5 page essay, 100 pts.
             10 one and half page essays, 20 pts. each

The essay and WI-method of evaluation used in this course is based on the assumption that clear, well-organized writing is a way of acquiring, analyzing, and communicating knowledge, and that the act of writing does not merely record thought or even simply reformulate it -- it generates thought. In other words, in many disciplines you don't really know what you know until you write about it.  Students must demonstrate a writing ability at the English 100+ level for a C grade or higher.

The essay topics for the major papers will be given to the student early in the semester. Students will first write their essays in draft form and then consult and interact with the instructor. A final version of each paper is due at the end of the semester.  Each final paper is worth 50 points; if a draft is not submitted ON TIME, 5 points will be deducted. The major papers are intended to be capstone efforts that integrate major concepts of the course.  The short one-page papers will be on concepts introduced step by step during the semester.  They are intended to help students master individually the major concepts that need to be integrated in the major papers.  Detailed feedback on concepts and writing mechanics will be provided for the one-page papers by the instructor. No late one-page papers will be accepted but the two lowest scores for the one-page papers will be dropped at the end of the semester prior to grade computation.

The final grade will be based on a percentage of the total points as follows:

             90-100%---A
             80-89%----B
             66-79%----C
             55-65%----D
             -54%----F, N or Inc.

Please note that the "N" and "Inc." grades are given only for special circumstances.

Special Note: Students with disabilities may obtain information on available services online at http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/disability. Specific inquires may be made by contacting Student ACCESS at (808) 844-2392 voice/text, by e-mail at access@hcc.hawaii.edu, or simply stopping by Student ACCESS located in Bldg. 7, Rm. 319.