Download - 106B Syllabus Summer 2012
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7/31/2019 106B Syllabus Summer 2012
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History 106B: The Scientific Revolution, 1500-1800
Common sense is the best distributed commodity in the world, for every man is convinced that he is well
supplied with it.- Descartes
Enrollment Code: 16014 Instructor: Tim Daniels
Room: HSSB 4041 Contact: [email protected],T,W,R 9:30-10:35 Office Hours: M,T 1-2pm, HSSB 3220
Gaucho Space Website: www.gauchospace.ucsb.edu
Required Texts:(All texts can be purchased at the UCEN bookstore, or much cheaper elsewhere; any edition of
any of the texts is acceptable)
1. Dear, Peter.Revolutionizing the Sciences. ISBN 06911420682. Jardine, Lisa.Ingenious Pursuits. ISBN 03854932583. Sarasohn, Lisa (ed). The Scientific Revolution. ISBN 06180524374. Sobel, Dava.Longitude. ISBN 080271529X5. Online assignments, available on Gaucho Space
Course Description: 106B covers the history of science in the West from Copernicus to Lavoisier: the transition
from medieval, theocentric views of nature and its operation to secular and mechanistic views in the seventeenth
and eighteenth centuries, and the transition from natural philosophy to science.
Grades:
Essay #1 = 20 points Record grade:___________
Midterm exam = 20 points Record grade:___________
Essay # 2 = 20 points Record grade:___________Final exam = 30 points Record grade:___________
In class participation = 10 points Record grade:___________
*keep track of your grades so that you have a solid idea of where you stand!
Broadly speaking, this is how I view each of the following course grades:
A You did everything I could possibly ask of you, and you did it extremely well. You worked very hard,
learned a great deal, and showed intelligence. The quality of your work was outstanding.
B You did all the work and you did it well. You worked hard and learned a good deal. The quality of your
work was good.
C You did all the work. It is clear that you learned a number of things, though you may not have a cohesive
and/or critical understanding of the course material. The quality of your work was adequate.
D You did most of the work, including all the major course requirements. You may have learned some
things, but it is not clear you learned anything important. The quality of your work was less than
adequate.
F You did not complete the course requirements. You have proved unwilling or unable to do college level
work in this subject area.
Due Dates: Essays should be submitted electronically via Gauchospace by the beginning of class on the due date.
I will accept assignments early and encourage you to submit drafts of your essays (at least three class meetings
before the due date). Late assignments receive an automatic 10% grade deduction for each late day.
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Attendance and participation: You may miss two classes with no penalty. That means that I am letting you
miss 10% of the class without damaging your grade. If this were your first year on an entry-level job, that would
be the equivalent of giving you over 5 weeks of vacation! Each additional class that you miss will result in the
loss of three points (or a third of a letter grade) from your final grade. Please show up to class on time and do not
begin to pack up until I let you know class is over. Partial attendance in class or not having readings for that day
will result in partial attendance credit. If you have to come in late or leave early on any given day, please talk to
me in advance.Once a week I will give a very short (perhaps a paragraph long) writing assignment based on the reading
for that day or previous days. These assignments will constitute half of the points available for in class
participation, since you will be unable to participate effectively if you have not completed the reading
assignments. I will count the highest 5 of these 6 assignments. The other half of your in-class participation grade
will be based on participation in group discussions, small and large group activities, and other work we engage in
class.
Enrollment: It is your responsibility to drop this class if you stop attending. Failure to drop the class may result
in a failing grade at the end of the session. Please see me if you wish to drop this class. UCSB has many
resources to assist you with succeeding and I want to see every student complete and pass this class. So dontgive up. If you are willing to work hard we can work something out!
Cell phone policy: No cell phones may be out during class (even to look up online assignments/readings). If you
use your phone during class you will be counted as absent for that day. Students with emergency reasons for
needing a cell phone on a particular day must follow this protocol:
1. Inform me before class of the emergency2. Set the phone to vibrate3. Sit near the exit of the classroom4. Exit room before answering phone
Academic Integrity: Plagiarism is defined by the Council of Writing Program Administrators as occurring
when a writer deliberately uses someone elses language, ideas, or other original (not common-knowledge)
material without acknowledging its source (http://www.wpscouncil.org/node/9). This means that for your essays
you must cite all instances when you borrow someone elses words, ideas, or material. If you have questionsabout citation or plagiarism, please contact me. This is of the utmost importance because if you are found guilty
of plagiarism you will receive a failing grade on that assignment, and most likely a failing grade in the course. I
am also required to report the infraction to the department chair who will, in turn, alert the Office of Student
affairs, which will place a note of the incident in your academic file. It is not worth risking your college career on
plagiarism, so just dont do it.
Other Points: If you wish to discuss a grade you receive, I ask that you wait at least one day after receiving that
grade to talk with me, and that you put in writing the reasons why you believe you deserve another grade.
I do not discuss grades over email, so if you want to talk about your academic performance, you must
meet with me in person.
I want this to be a casual and comfortable learning environment. Feel free to bring drinks or snacks to
class.We will be reading about and discussing some very important and touchy topics. Please feel free to speak
up about them but keep in mind that at all times you must be respectful of your fellow students as well as
individuals who may not be in the classroom. I absolutely will not tolerate disparaging comments about race,
class, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, political views, or anything else that are intentionally
derogatory.
Assignments: Specific information about the Essays and Exams will be distributed in class.
http://www.wpscouncil.org/node/9http://www.wpscouncil.org/node/9http://www.wpscouncil.org/node/9http://www.wpscouncil.org/node/9 -
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Students with disabilities: If you are a student with a documented disability (registered with the DSP program:
893-2668, www.sa.ucsb.edu/dsp) and you would like to arrange special accommodations, please contact me after
class and I will be happy to discuss alternative arrangements.
One Last Thing: I am here because I love teaching and because I learn a lot from interacting with you. I want
you to succeed, so please feel free to talk to me about anything class related. And if there is something else going
on with which you believe I can appropriately help you, dont hesitate to ask. Also, keep in mind that it is a loteasier to avoid potential road hazards early than to fix them after they have become a problem, so if you see
trouble on the horizon, talk to me asap.
Schedule:*readings are to be completed by the day for which they are assigned
*I suggest holding class on 30JUN or 13JUL and taking 5JUL off. Thoughts?
Week 1:
1. M, 26JUN: Course Introduction and Administrative Things, Defining the Scientific
Revolution2. T, 27JUN: Science in 1500
Assignment: Dear, ch. 1. (18)
3. W, 28JUN: Paracelsus
Assignment: Dear, pp. 29-32, ch. 3; Sarasohn, Eamon.http://www.rexresearch.com/alchemy2/paratrsr.htm - The Treasure of Treasures forAlchemists by Paracelsus.Just bring a copy of Paracelsus to class; no need to read(27)
4. R, 29JUN: VesaliusAssignment: Dear, rest of Ch. 2http://vesalius.northwestern.edu/flash.html - Preface to
Emperor Charles V; browse illustrations ofDe Fabrica.(18)
Week 2:5. M, 2JUL: Copernicus
Assignment: Sarasohn, readings by Westman, Kuhn;
http://webexhibits.org/calendars/year-text-Copernicus.html - Forward by Osiander, Letterof Schnberg, Letter of Copernicus to Pope, Intro, ch. 1-2. (20)
6. T, 3JUL: Kepler, Galileo, Brahe
Assignment: Dear, ch. 4; Sarasohn, reading by Biagioli;http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/galileo-tuscany.html - Galileos Letter to the
Grand Duchess Christina. (36)
7. W, 4JUL: No Class, Independence Day8. R, 5JUL: Patronage, Science, and Warfare
Assignment: Sarasohn, Biagioli; Dear, ch. 6. (33)
Week 3:
9. M, 9JUL: Bacon and the Culture of ExperimentAssignment: Essay # 1 due; Dear, ch. 7; Sarasohn, readings by Zisel, Shapin and
Schaffer. (34)
10. T, 10JUL: Descartes and CartesianismAssignment: Dear, ch. 5; Sarasohn, reading by Westfall; DescartesDiscourse on Methodbrowse all; read intro, Chapters 1,2,&4. (32)
http://www.rexresearch.com/alchemy2/paratrsr.htmhttp://www.rexresearch.com/alchemy2/paratrsr.htmhttp://vesalius.northwestern.edu/flash.htmlhttp://vesalius.northwestern.edu/flash.htmlhttp://vesalius.northwestern.edu/flash.htmlhttp://webexhibits.org/calendars/year-text-Copernicus.htmlhttp://webexhibits.org/calendars/year-text-Copernicus.htmlhttp://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/galileo-tuscany.htmlhttp://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/galileo-tuscany.htmlhttp://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/galileo-tuscany.htmlhttp://webexhibits.org/calendars/year-text-Copernicus.htmlhttp://vesalius.northwestern.edu/flash.htmlhttp://www.rexresearch.com/alchemy2/paratrsr.htm -
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11. W, 11JUL: Organizing Natural Philosophy
Assignment: Jardine, ch. 1. (22)12. R, 12JUL: Midterm Exam.
Week 4:13. M, 16JUL: Boyle, Hooke, and the Animal Machine
Assignment: Jardine, 2. (32)
14. T, 17JUL: HarveyAssignment: Jardine, ch. 3. (29)
15. W, 18JUL: The Role of Scientific Societies
Assignment: Bring (but you need not read before class) TBD articles from the
Philosophical Transactions. They can be accessed throughwww.jstor.org and on
Gauchospace, but can only be accessed from a UCSB or proxy server.
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1778voltaire-royalsoc.html - Voltaires On the
Royal Society and other Academies. (7)
16. R, 19JUL: Newton and the PrincipiaAssignment: Sarasohn, Genuth; http://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~hst337/Newton.htm -
Principia, Introduction, Rules of Reasoning in Philosophy, General Scholium. (7)
Week 5:
17. M, 23JUL: The Culture of NewtonianismAssignment: Dear, ch. 8; http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1778voltaire-
newton.html#Letter%20XIVVoltaire, On Descartesand Sir Isaac Newton. (32)
18. T, 24JUL: Navigation and New Worlds
Assignment: Essay #2 due;Longitude; Jardine, chs. 4+5.(125GET A HEAD START)19. W, 25JUL: Linnaeus and Buffon: Natural History and Natural Philosophy
Assignment: Jardine, ch. 6. (33)
20. R, 26JUL: Generation
Assignment: Jardine, ch. 7. (31)
Week 6:
21. M, 30JUL: Books and Scientific SharingAssignment: Jardine, ch. 8. (32)
22. T, 1AUG: Lavoisier and Dalton: The Chemical Revolution
Assignment:Bring to class, but you need not read beforehand:http://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/helmont.html - Excerpts from the work of Jan-Baptist
van Helmont,http://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/black.html - Joseph Blacks Experimentsupon Magnesia Alba, http://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/lavpref.html - Lavoisiers
Preface toElements of Chemistry. (16)23. W, 2AUG: Science in 1800
Assignment: Dear, Conclusion; Sarasohn, readings by Cohen, Porter, Dobbs. (31)
24. R, 3AUG: Final Exam
http://www.jstor.org/http://www.jstor.org/http://www.jstor.org/http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1778voltaire-royalsoc.htmlhttp://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1778voltaire-royalsoc.htmlhttp://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~hst337/Newton.htmhttp://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~hst337/Newton.htmhttp://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1778voltaire-newton.html#Letter%20XIVhttp://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1778voltaire-newton.html#Letter%20XIVhttp://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1778voltaire-newton.html#Letter%20XIVhttp://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/helmont.htmlhttp://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/helmont.htmlhttp://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/black.htmlhttp://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/black.htmlhttp://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/black.htmlhttp://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/lavpref.htmlhttp://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/lavpref.htmlhttp://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/lavpref.htmlhttp://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/black.htmlhttp://web.lemoyne.edu/~giunta/helmont.htmlhttp://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1778voltaire-newton.html#Letter%20XIVhttp://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1778voltaire-newton.html#Letter%20XIVhttp://coursesa.matrix.msu.edu/~hst337/Newton.htmhttp://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1778voltaire-royalsoc.htmlhttp://www.jstor.org/ -
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