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HPS History and Philosophy Courses


HPS200Y1
Scientific Revolutions 52L, 26T

The culture of the natural sciences, explored through revolutionary bursts of innovation that propelled science in new and sometimes unexpected directions. Although some familiarity with scientific concepts is helpful, the course is designed for students in both the sciences and the humanities.
Exclusion: ERI "Scientific Revolutions"
This counts as a Humanities or Science course


HPS201H1
Origins of Western Technology 26L, 13T

Technology and its place in our culture from Antiquity to the beginnings of the Industrial Revolution. Relations between technology and science, religion, the arts, social institutions, and political beliefs.
This is a Humanities course


HPS202H1
Technology in the Modern World 26L, 13T

A survey of technical change and its social implications from the Industrial Revolution to the present.
Recommended preparation: HPS201H
This is a Humanities course


HPS250H1
Introductory Philosophy of Science 26L, 13T

This course critically examines several influential models of science and ideas of objectivity, rationality, theory change, revolution in science and the growth of scientific knowledge. (A suitable pre-cursor to PHL355H)
This is a Humanities course


HPS299Y1
Research Opportunity Program

Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. See page 42 for details.


HPS306H1
Technology and War 26L

An examination of the tools of war in the Western world from the Middle Ages to World War II, including not only weapons but the means of transportation, communication, and organization used in violent conflict. The effects of war on the development of science and technology.
Exclusion: HPS417H
Recommended preparation: HPS201H/202H or any HIS course
This is a Humanities course


HPS307H1
History of Energy 26L, 12T

The history of human control of various sources of energy, including technical developments, scientific theories, and impact on culture and society. Recent debates on fossil fuel and nuclear power examined in historical context.
Recommended preparation: HPS201H/202H or any HIS course
This is a Humanities course


HPS314Y1
History of Medicine 52L, 26T

A survey of medical theory and practice from Antiquity to the modern welfare state, with emphasis on social, cultural and political setting.
Exclusion: HPS314H, 315H
This is a Humanities course


HPS323H1
Darwinism 26L, 13T

A close examination of the theory advanced in Darwin's Origin of Species, including historical investigation of its development in European thought in general and in Darwin's mind in particular, and the logic and strategy of Darwin's argument. Consideration of the effect of evolutionary ideas on science, religion and social thought in the 19th and 20th centuries, including eugenics, the Scopes trial and sociobiology.
Exclusion: ZOO354Y
This counts as a Humanities or Science course


HPS324H1
Natural Science and Social Issues 26L, 13T

Historical examination of the interactions of science (both as body of knowledge and as enterprise) with ideological, political and social issues. The impact of science; attacks on and critiques of scientific expertise as background to contemporary conflicts. Subjects may vary according to students' interests.
This is a Humanities course


HPS333H1
Topics in History of Biology 26L, 13T

Classic episodes from the history of physiology, cell theory, embryology, genetics, and molecular biology, including the work of Aristotle, Galen, Harvey, Descartes, Roux, Mendel, Morgan, Watson and Crick.
Exclusion: ZOO354Y
Recommended preparation: HPS323H
This counts as a Humanities or Science course


HPS360H1
History of Modern Cosmology 26L, 13T

Conceptions of universe since 1800 with attention to observational sources of changing ideas. History of large telescopes, stellar spectroscopy and radio astronomy. Relativistic conceptions of space and time, models of stellar evolution, discovery of extra-galactic nebulae, Hubble red-shift and microwave background radiation. Philosophical and religious implications are examined.
This counts as a Humanities or Science course


HPS390H1
History of Mathematics up to 1700 26L, 13T

A survey of ancient, medieval, and early modern mathematics with emphasis on historical issues. (Offered in alternate years)
Exclusion: HPS309Y, 310Y; MAT220Y, 390H
Prerequisite: At least one full MAT200-level course
This counts as a Humanities or Science course


HPS391H1
History of Mathematics after 1700 26L, 13T

A survey of the development of mathematics from 1700 to the present with emphasis on historical issues. (Offered in alternate years)
Exclusion: HPS309Y, 310Y; MAT220Y, 391H
Prerequisite: At least one full MAT200-level course
This counts as a Humanities or Science course


HPS410H1
History of Mathematics 26S

An historical survey from pre-Greek to the present. Various themes are emphasized year to year, to show mathematics as changing and evolving. A student could expect to gain an historical overview as well as a sense of the unity of the mathematical sciences.
Prerequisite: HPS309Y/310Y/390H/391H/MAT220Y and permission of instructor
This is a Humanities course


HPS412H1
History of the Biological Sciences 26S

Advanced level survey of biological science from ancient Greece to the 20th century emphasizing primary sources analyses.
Prerequisite: HPS200Y/ZOO354Y and permission of instructor
Recommended preparation: BIO150Y/European history/Philosophy
This is a Humanities course


HPS427H1
Historical Foundations of Chemistry 26S

The development of chemistry from the Chemical Revolution of Lavoisier to the periodic table of Mendeleev: electro-chemistry, the rise of organic chemistry, classification, valency, structural chemistry.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
This is a Humanities course


HPS430H1
History of Technology I 26S

An advanced survey of the history of technology from Antiquity to the Industrial Revolution.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
Recommended preparation: HPS201H/202H
This is a Humanities course


HPS495Y1
Individual Studies TBA

A reading and research project in some aspect of history of science and technology, supervised by a faculty member. Projects must be approved by the Institute and are subject to availability of a faculty supervisor.
Prerequisite: Two HPS courses
This is a Humanities course


HPS496H1/497H1
Individual Studies TBA

A reading and research project in some aspect of the social, cultural or intellectual history of science and technology, supervised by a faculty member. Projects must be approved by the Institute by the previous June for a Fall course or by November for a Spring course, and are subject to availability of a faculty supervisor.
Prerequisite: Two HPS courses


HPS498H1/499H1
Individual Studies TBA

A reading and research project in some aspect of the development of scientific theory or practice, supervised by a faculty member. Projects must be approved by the Institute by the previous June for a Fall course or by November for a Spring course, and are subject to availability of a faculty supervisor.
Prerequisite: Two HPS courses


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