Modern Biology and Social Implications

Format:
Online

Term: Summer 2022

Session: Summer Session II: June 30 – August 5, 2022

Subject Area: SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, & SOCIETY (STSC)

Course Number: STSC 1151 920

Schedule:

  • Monday 12:00 - 2:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday 12:00 - 2:30 p.m.
  • Friday 12:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Instructor: CECCATTI, JOHN

Primary Program: School of Arts and Sciences

Course Description:

This course covers the history of biology in the 19th and 20th centuries, giving equal consideration to three dominant themes: evolutionary biology, classical genetics, and molecular biology. The course is intended for students with some background in the history of science as well as in biology, although no specific knowledge of either subject in required. We will have three main goals: first, to delineate the content of the leading biological theories and experimental practices of the past two centuries; second, to situate these theories and practices in their historical context, noting the complex interplay between them and the dominant social, political, and economic trends; and, third, to critically evaluate various methodological approaches to the history of science.

Syllabus: STSC-1151-920-draftsyllabus