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THEMES
What
is a theme? To help students tailor their studies to their own
interests, we ask them to come up with some plan of study. The list
of themes below is merely suggestive. Remember that: 1) other themes
are possible, 2) the courses used to fulfill any particular theme
can vary, 3) many courses not listed below may count toward fulfilling
the requirements of the major, and 4) almost any theme might include
some of the general courses (listed in the "General courses
list" section) in the history, philosophy, or sociology of
science and medicine.
Medicine
and Society
Science and Gender
Science, Technology, and Society
Philosophy of Science
Science, Religion, and Values
Medicine and Society: This theme explores the interaction of
medical knowledge and practice, medical ethics, and the boundaries
between sickness and health. Topics might include: the authority
of the physician, the role of the hospital, the social dimensions
of racial and gender differences, and changing conceptions of disease
and healing. This theme might be of particular interest to those
students planning to attend medical school or public health school.
It could include such courses as:
Classics
342 Early European Medicine
Economics 307 Economics of Medical Care
History 275-1,2 History of Science and Medicine
History 376-2 Science and Defining the Human
History 391 History of Abortion
History 391 The Origins of Modern Medicine
History 392 Gender and Medicine in History
IGP 495 Science & Society
Philosophy 220 Creationism and Sociobiology
Philosophy 326 Bio-Medical Ethics
Sociology 216 Sociology of Sex Roles
Sociology 355 Medical Sociology
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Science and Gender: Here the focus is on the ways in which
science has been used to define the roles of women and men in society.
What has been the impact of medicine and technology in the realm
of reproduction? Why have scientific definitions of human sexual
difference changed so much in the past 200 years? And is it right
to say, as some scholars have argued, that men and women bring fundamentally
different viewpoints to the study of nature? This theme might appeal
to students in a wide variety of disciplines, including Women's
Studies. It could include such courses as:
Anthropology
354 Gender and Anthropology
Anthropology 370 Anthropology in Historical Perspective
Biological Sciences 160 Human Reproduction
History 376-2 Science and Defining the Human
History 391 History of Abortion
History 391 The Origins of Modern Medicine
History 392 Gender and Medicine in History
Philosophy 220 Creationism and Sociobiology
Sociology 216 Sociology of Sex Roles
Sociology 319 Sociology of Science
Women's Studies 250 Women in Science
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Science, Technology, and Society: This theme examines the
social, political, and economic dimensions of technological change.
Technology has been touted as the panacea for poverty and inequality;
and blasted for devaluing human labor, destroying the environment,
and producing weapons of mass destruction. What are the sources
and ramifications of technological change? In what ways do the technologies
of mass communication shape our political life? This theme might
appeal to students interested in technology policy, as well as students
from Tech and Medill. Courses might include:
Communications
229 Communication Technology
Civil Engineering 206 Environmental Literacy
Economics 323-1,2 Economic History of the U.S.
History 275-1,2 Technology: History, Society, Economy
History 376-1 Science and Utopian Thought
History 392 Capitalism and the Pursuit of Happiness
Humanities 302 The Computer Revolution
IGP 495 Science & Society
Philosophy 367 Philosophical Issues Concerning Technology
Political Science 204 Politics and Nature
Political Science 371 Environmental Politics
Sociology 312 Social Basis of Environmental Change
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Philosophy of Science: This theme treats both the question
of what constitutes the scientific method, and the philosophical
implications of scientific theories. It might appeal to philosophy
majors, or to those science students who wish to explore the philosophical
underpinnings of their discipline. Courses could include:
History
350-3 Intellectual History in the Nineteenth Century
History 350-4 Intellectual History in the Twentieth Century
History 376-1 Science and Utopian Thought
History 376-2 Science and Defining the Human
IGP 495 Science & Society
Philosophy 254 Scientific Method in the Natural Sciences
Philosophy 325 Philosophy of the Mind
Philosophy 354-1 Philosophy of Space, Time, Motion
Philosophy 354-2 Philosophy of Quantum Mechanics
Philosophy 355 Scientific Methods in the Social Sciences
Sociology 319 Sociology of Science
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Science, Religion, and Values: In recent times, commentators
have emphasized the conflict between science and religion, whereas
earlier thinkers often saw the two as complementary or interdependent
forms of understanding. This theme addresses the complex relationship
between scientific knowledge and religious belief. It might appeal
to students curious about the interplay of faith and knowledge.
Courses could include:
European
Thought and Culture 216 The Age of Enlightenment
History 350-3 Intellectual History of Europe: Nineteenth
Century
History 350-4 Intellectual History of Europe: Twentieth
Century
History 376-1 Science and Modern Society: Science and Utopian
Thought
History 391 Knowledge and Belief
History 392 The Victorian Crisis of Faith
Philosophy 220 Creationism and Sociobiology
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