From: John I. Brooks III (Teikyo Loretto Heights University) jbrooks@tlhu.eduIn response to Prof. Burke's query, the following is an abbreviated syllabus for an upper-division, comparative, topical course in world history. More information and a complete bibliography are available upon request. I presented a paper on this course at the World History Association meeting last summer; I'm sure I could dig a copy out of my files, if anyone is interested. This course is one of a series designed for an interdisciplinary Intercultural Studies major. I will forward the syllabi of others--on revolutions and imperialism--as I get them entered into our new computer system.
HIST 3606: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY IN THE MODERN WORLD
OBJECTIVES:
This course will examine the relationships among science, technology, and society in the modern world. We will start by using a recent incident in science, the alleged discovery of cold fusion, to study what science and technology are. We will then look at the origins of modern science in the West and the ways it transformed both Japanese and American traditional cultures. Next the course will examine the relationships among science, government, and war during the period before and during World War II. Finally, we will study ways in which science and technology affect the world today. At the end of this course, students should have the following knowledge and skills:
KNOWLEDGE:
- theories about the nature of modern science and about differences between modern science, which originated in the West, and the science of other cultural traditions;
- theories about the relationship between science and society;
- theories about the nature of technology, the relationship of technology to science, and the relationship of technology to society;
- the effect of modern science and technology on American business, society, government, and culture;
- the effect of modern science and technology on Japanese business, society, government, and culture.
SKILLS:
- ability to assess critically historical issues in science, technology, and society;
- ability to research and assess critically contemporary issues in science, technology, and society;
- ability to appreciate cultural differences in the nature and impact of science and technology;
- ability to give and respond to questions about an oral presentation.
REQUIRED TEXTS (Available at the Bookstore): Gary Cross and Rick Szostak, _Technology and American Society_, Tessa Morris-Suzuki, _The Technological Transformation of Japan_, Leslie Stevenson and Henry Byerly, _The Many Faces of Science_. Other required readings are on reserve in the library.
GRADING: Journal 40%; Two exams 30%; Class presentation 30%. Attendance and participation may affect grade: poor attendance and participation can lower the grade one letter grade, good participation can raise the grade one letter grade. [Other administrative details omitted]
SCHEDULE OF CLASS MEETINGS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
INTRODUCTION
- A.COLD FUSION AND THE NATURE OF MODERN SCIENCE (Week 1)
- Cold Fusion Confusion: Stevenson and Byerly, 150-54
What is Science?: Stevenson and Byerly, 1-5.
- B. THE ORIGINS OF MODERN SCIENCE (Week 2)
- Stevenson and Byerly, 5-10
I. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND MODERNIZATION
A. SCIENCE AND THE INDUSTRIALIZATION OF AMERICA
- Science and Enlightenment in America: Stevenson and Byerly 15-19 (journal due).
- Science, Technology, and Industry in the United States, 1860-1930: The Electric Industry: Cross and Szostak, 149-55, 163-74, 212-25 (Week 3)
- Science, Technology, and Modern Life in America: Charlie Chaplin, "Modern Times" (Week 4)
B. THE MODERNIZATION OF JAPAN
- Traditional Knowledge and Western Science in Tokugawa Japan: Morris-Suzuki, ch. 2.
- The Meiji Restoration and the Search for Western Learning: Morris-Suzuki, ch. 3-4 (Week 5)
- Western Technology and Japanese Industry: Morris-Suzuki, ch. 4; Imazu, Kenji, "The Beginning of Electric Engineers in Japan," (on reserve).
- Western Technology and Japanese Industry (continued): Morris-Suzuki, ch. 5 (Week 6)
- MIDTERM ASSESSMENT (journal due; week 7)
II: SCIENCE, WAR, AND ETHICSModern Warfare, Rules of War, and the Scientist (week 8)
A. SCIENCE AND THE JAPANESE MILITARY
- Biological Weapons and Human Experimentation: Powell, "A Hidden
- Chapter in History," and Tsuneishi, "The Research Guarded by Military Secrecy" (on reserve); Morris-Suzuki, ch. 6.
- The Atomic Bomb: The Japanese Project: Shapely, "Nuclear Weapons History: Japan's Wartime Bomb Projects Revealed" (on reserve); Morris-Suzuki, ch. 6.
B. THE AMERICAN NUCLEAR PROGRAM
- The Atomic Bomb: The Manhattan Project: Cross and Szostak, 280-88; Stevenson and Byerly 159-63, 175-90 (Week 9)
III: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD
A. FUNDING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
- The United States: Stevenson and Byerly, 133-54.
- Japan: Morris-Suzuki, ch. 7; Narin and Frame, "The Growth of Japanese Science and Technology" (on reserve; week 10)
B. NUCLEAR POWER
- The United States: Cross and Szostak, 288-90; Hiskes and Hiskes, "Nuclear Power and Social Justice" (on reserve).
- Japan: Morris-Suzuki, 229-35 (Week 11)
C. SPECIAL TOPICS (student presentations; weeks 12-14)
CONCLUSION
Summary and Assessment: Cross and Szostak, ch 20; Morris-Suzuki, 239-44 (Week 15)
FINAL EXAM
[an error occurred while processing this directive]