Science and Society

Catalog description

Science and technology are inseparable from the people that engage in them and are influenced by them. In this course we will ask questions such as: what is science? How do scientists go about doing it? Where does science get its authority? What are the responsibilities of scientists to the public? What are the ethical, legal, and political considerations that should accompany scientific development? We will read classic and contemporary texts concerning these issues, and students will develop their critical and philosophical abilities in order to assess and contribute to these debates. Reserved for Sophomores Only.