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Christian Roots: Medieval and Early Modern Science
Winter 2008
We will explore the medieval and early modern influences on western science. In doing so, we will study the development of European culture between approximately 1100 to 1750 through the prism of astronomy, botany, medicine and natural philosophy. We will also examine the influence of Christianity on early scientific understanding of the world.
This program investigates the following questions. How did classical pagan philosophy and Christianity shape the way medieval and Renaissance Europeans interpreted and represented the world? What is the relationship between Christianity and science? Are they antagonistic or mutually supportive? Could you make an argument that Christianity gave rise to science? How did humanism, the rise of science and changing technology transform the way Renaissance Europeans made sense of the world? What makes science progress? What approaches have been fruitful? Is western science a privileged white male perspective of the world? Or is it a multicultural worldview? Would science look different if women and/or peoples of color had played a more prominent role in the creation of scientific knowledge over the last 500 years? What role did European colonialism and imperialism play in the expansion of knowledge about the natural world?
In the fall, we developed a grounding in the precipitating factors, cultural and scientific, that shaped the Middle Ages. We studied Greek and Roman thinkers such as Hippocrates, Aristotle, and Dioscorides who influenced natural philosophy. We also examined selected philosophical and theological issues that vexed scholars in medieval monasteries and universities. We examined the practice of European ethnobotany through herbals, horticulture, and medical history. Finally, we studied early modern shifts in the practice of astronomy and life science. During the Middle Ages, natural philosophy was heavily shaped by Christian values and beliefs. With the establishment of institutions of higher learning and numerous translations of classical pagan works, the seeds for a new scientific enterprise were planted. New technology, artistic movements, global exploration, and the rise of nation states also contributed to the scientific revolution that took place in the early modern period. In the winter, we will continue to explore the scientific revolution and its influence on the study and use of nature. Students will also complete a book arts project that they began in fall.
Special Expenses: $75 for art supplies.
Faculty: Frederica Bowcutt, Lab II rm 3272, X 6744, bowcuttf@evergreen.edu Kevin Francis, Sem II rm E2101, phone X 5831, francisk@evergreen.edu
Office hours: by appt.
Weekly Schedule:
Tuesday Wednesday Friday
|10 am-12 noon All Group Mtg |9 am- 1 pm Writing Workshops |9 am-12 noon |
|SEM II rm A1105 |Lab II rm 2270 (Kevin) |Book Art Workshops |
| |Lab II rm 3270 (Frederica) |Lab I rm 1040 & 1050 |
|1-4 pm Seminar Workshop | |1:30-3:30 pm All Group |
|Lab II rm 2270 (Kevin) | |SEM II rm A1105 |
|Lab II rm 3270 (Frederica) | | |
Book List:
Lecture Readings Seminar Books
|LaPlantz, Cover to Cover |Merchant, Death of Nature / |
| |White, “Historical Roots of Environmental Crisis” |
|Francis Bacon, Of Gardens & other |Crosby, The Measure of Reality |
|selections |Fagan, The Little Ice Age |
|Descartes selections |selections from Grant, Science and Religion |
|Schiebinger, “The Loves of the Plants” |Erasmus, Praise of Folly |
|Shapin, “Pump & Circumstance” |Jacob, The Scientific Revolution: Aspiration and Achievements |
| |Brockway, Science and Colonial Expansion |
| |Schiebinger, The Mind has No Sex? |
| |TBA |
Note: Students joining the program in winter need to read Grant, Science and Religion (except Chapters 7-8) prior to the first week of class.
Week 1 January 7-11
Seminar and Workshop Readings: Merchant, Death of Nature pp. xv-252 + White, “Historical
Roots of Environmental Crisis”
Tues, Jan 8
10 am-12 noon Orientation
1-4 pm Seminar on White, “Historical Roots of Environmental Crisis”
& Chap. 1 of Merchant, Death of Nature
Weds, January 9
9 am-1 pm Student Interviews (make an appt with your seminar leader)
Fri, Jan 11
9 am-12 noon Group A: Book Arts Workshop
Group B: Medieval & Renaissance Books
1:30-3:30 pm Workshop on Death of Nature
Week 2 January 14-18
Seminar Readings: Merchant, Death of Nature pp. 253-295
Guest Lecture Reading: LaPlantz, Cover to Cover
Tues, January 15
10 am-12 noon Lecture: Scientific Revolution
1-4 pm Seminar on Merchant, Death of Nature
Weds, January 16
9 & 11 am Writing Workshops (Everyone attends/Group A papers)
Fri, January 18
9 am-12 noon Group B: Book Arts Workshop
Group A: Medieval & Renaissance Books
1:30-3:30 pm Guest Lecture: Lucia Harrison on the Book Arts
Week 3 January 21-25
Seminar Readings: Crosby, The Measure of Reality
Tues, January 22
10 am-12 noon Guest Lecture: Sean Williams on Music and Time
1-4 pm Seminar on Crosby, The Measure of Reality
Weds, January 23
9 & 11 am Writing Groups (Everyone attends/Group B papers)
Fri, January 25
9 am-12 noon Group A: Book Arts Workshop/Rare Book Collection Tour
Group B: Seminar on Cover to Cover (bring the book to class)
1:30-3:30 pm Lecture: Renaissance Painting and Perspective
Week 4 January 28- February 1
Seminar Readings: Fagan, The Little Ice Age
Tues, January 29
10 am-12 noon Lecture: Reconstructing Climatic History, Film: The Little Ice Age
1-4 pm Seminar on Fagan, The Little Ice Age
Weds, January 30
all day Focus the Nation
(required to attend at least two events & take detailed notes)
Fri, February 1
9 am-12 noon Group B: Book Arts Workshop/Rare Book Collection Tour
Group A: Seminar on Cover to Cover (bring the book to class)
1:30-4:00 pm Film: Inconvenient Truth
Week 5 February 4-8
Seminar Readings: Grant, Science and Religion, Chapters 7 & 8 + supplementary
reading TBA
DUE: Book Arts Proposal including one page, typed description of the book you will create and a bibliography of reference materials you plan to use for content and/or artistic inspiration.
Tues, February 5
10 am-12 noon Guest Lecture: Char Simon on Islam & Science
1-4 pm Seminar on Grant, Science and Religion, Chapters 7 & 8 + supplementary
reading TBA
Weds, February 6
9 & 11 am Writing Groups (Everyone attends/Group A papers)
Fri, February 8
9 am-12 noon Group A: Book Arts Workshop
Group B: Open Work Period
1:30-3:30 pm TBA
Week 6 February 11-15
Seminar Readings: Erasmus, Praise of Folly
Tues, February 12
10 am-12 noon Lecture: Protestant Reformation and Science
1-4 pm Seminar on Erasmus, Praise of Folly
Weds, February 13
9 & 11 am Writing Groups (Everyone attends/Group B papers)
Fri, February 15
9 am-12 noon Group B: Book Arts Workshop
Group A: Open Work Period
1:30-3:30 pm Workshop: Francis Bacon and Rene Descartes
Week 7 February 18-22
Seminar Readings: Jacob, The Scientific Revolution: Aspiration and Achievements
Optional Reading: Schiebinger, “The Loves of the Plants”, essay on tobacco
Tues, February 19
10 am-12 noon Lecture: Emergence of Scientific Societies, Culture, and Method
1-4 pm Seminar on Jacob, The Scientific Revolution: Aspiration and Achievements
Weds, February 20
9 & 11 am Writing Groups (Everyone attends/Group A papers)
Fri, February 22
9 am-12 noon Discussion of Student Work (Bring: Minimum of 10 pages of book)
1:30-3:30 pm Lecture: New World Plant Discoveries
Week 8 February 25-29
Seminar Readings: Brockway, Science and Colonial Expansion
Tues, February 26
12:30-2:30 Lecture: Colonialism and Nationalism in Natural History
1-4 pm Seminar on Brockway, Science and Colonial Expansion
Weds, February 27
9 & 11 am Writing Groups (Everyone attends/Group B papers)
Fri, Feb 29
9 am-12 noon Assisted Work Period
1:30-3:30 pm Lecture: Maria Sibylla Merian
Week 9 March 3-7
Seminar Readings: Schiebinger, The Mind has No Sex?
Tues, March 4
10 am-12 noon Review for Final Exam
1-4 pm Seminar on Schiebinger, The Mind has No Sex?
Weds, March 5
9 & 11 am Writing Groups (Everyone attends/Group A papers)
Fri, March 7
9 am-12 noon Assisted Work Period
1:30-3:30 pm Self-Evaluation Workshop (bring 7 copies of your draft self-eval)
Week 10 March 10-14 DUE: Portfolios due on Friday, March 14 @ 5 pm outside seminar faculty’s door
Tues, March 11
10 am-12 noon Final Exam
1-4 pm Wrap-up Seminar
Weds, March 12
9 & 11 am Writing Groups (Everyone attends/Group B papers)
Fri, March 14
1-4 pm Potluck Feast & Wrap-up @ Organic Farmhouse
(Bring your handmade books to share)
Required Papers and Portfolio Materials
seminar text quizzes
book art assignments
hand-made book(s) following the class assignment
four essays with author’s note (3 pages each, type-written and double spaced)
four rewrites with author note (turn in with all commented on first drafts and with faculty comments on rewrite which was turned in one week after first draft was turned in; no late papers)
detailed notes from lectures, workshops, films, and ‘Focus the Nation’ events
final exam
self evaluation
EVALUATIONS WEEK: March 17-21 Individual Conferences with Faculty
Please bring your faculty and self evaluations to your evaluation meeting.
(Note: a self evaluation is a required document for credit in the program)
Your evaluation will be based on:
• the quality of required work (listed above),
• performance on the final exam,
• attendance, and
• participation.
Winter Course Equivalencies:
4 Early Modern European History
2 Book Arts
2 Expository Writing
4 Philosophy of Science
4 European Environmental History
Expectations of Evergreen Graduates
articulate and assume responsibility for your own work
participate collaboratively and responsibly in our diverse society
communicate creatively and effectively
demonstrate integrative, independent and critical thinking
apply qualitative, quantitative, and creative modes of inquiry appropriately to practical and theoretical problems across disciplines
as a culmination of your education, demonstrate depth, breadth, and synthesis of learning and the ability to reflect on the personal and social significance of that learning
BAD WEATHER PHONE LINE: 867-6000 option 1 to see if campus is officially closed
Note: whether you come to class during a snow-storm is a personal judgment call. Error on the side of safety. You can call Frederica’s office number (867-6744) and Kevin Francis (867-5831) for a message regarding whether they are coming on a snow day as they must come from a distance.
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