Syllabus for Roster(s):

  • 17Sp RELG 5559-002 (CGAS)
In the UVaCollab course site:   17Sp RELG 5559-002 (CGAS)

Phil Of Science

RELG 7559 Phil of Science: Starting Thursday, January 19 2 PM-430pm in Gilmer 166

          Themes:

  • The class is all about sciences, but we know that we are students of religious studies, theology, and philosophy, not advanced mathematicians. The goal is to become deeper and broader thinkers by allowing our various relations to the sciences to affect us independently of our prior assumptions or presumptions about how the effect is supposed to work. A strongly recommended goal is to enter into readings whose technicality, including mathematics, seems two steps more than you’re ready for: read through, re-read, receive what comes, do not over push for the sake of possession (possessing clarity), but trust hunches you begin to acquire, senses of patterns and relationship to you; then move on, trusting more than demanding.
  • Paradigm shifts in science (including social science and extended to all disciplines of inquiry)
  • Physics, Biology, Sociology
  • Philosophy-, logic/semiotic-, and introductory mathematics- of science
  • Initial paradigm contrasts: Between sciences that can be diagrammed through 2-valued logics versus those that can be diagrammed only through 3+-valued logics.
    • After a while should begin to perceive subtler and more detailed contrasts
    • Illustrations: Aristotle vs. Crescas, Newton vs. Heisenberg -- and then perhaps more subtle distinctions in the cases we consider from biology and social science.

 

Recommended approaches to classes, readings, writings:

  • First pursue “knowledge by acquaintance,” turning secondarily to “knowledge about” for the sake of clarifying details (without letting clarity misguide your approach to acquaintance). [If you’re not familiar with these terms, take a look at Grote, William James, Bertrand Russell, then add a distinction between relational knowing and conceptual knowing.] Moving from Newtonian discourses toward quantum discourses, you may fare better if you consider this a matter of getting to know something like a person rather than something like a concept.
  • Each week we are each asked to write a brief statement or to construct diagrams of what would appear to be the dominant paradigm/s in the primary readings for the week (according to our abductions).
  • Written work throughout the course is a growing set of comparative diagrams/accounts of changing paradigms.

 

Weekly readings and topics

 

  1.       (Jan 19) T Kuhn The Structure of Scientific Revolutions: Paradigms and Paradigm Shifts.

 

  1.           (Jan 26) Crescas' critique of Aristotle on Infinity :
  • To make this affordable I will provide photocopies of excerpts from Harry Wolfson, Crescas' critique of Aristotle ;  Warren Harvey, Physics and Metaphysics in Hasdai Crescas. Our guest Michael Weinman will provide additional, brief excerpts from Aristo…..
  • Work: read the basic assignments; write -- construct paradigms for the overall scientific reasoning within each side in this debate.
  • Additional reading for those interested: Waxman, Philosophy of Don Hasdai Crescas; Harry Wolfson, Crescas' critique of Aristotle ;  Warren Harvey, Physics and Metaphysics in Hasdai Crescas.

 

  1.  (Feb 2) Classic Physics: Modern Discoveries: Oxygen, Light, Electromagnestism

A.  Discovery Of Oxygen (the beginnings of modern Chemistry)

  • Rd. “Evolution of Physical Sciences” (Collab) pp. 1-17 (up to Quantum) – then relook at pp. 13-17 (don’t strain, just get the eyes used to some of the terms)
  • Watch “Discovery of Oxygen’ on you tube: the first one ("Kanopy"= "Out of Thin Air") is key, the next 3 quick ones for fun and review
    • http://virginia.kanopystreaming.com.proxy.its.virginia.edu/video/mystery-matter-out-thin-air
    • Another route to Out of Thin Air is: go to virgo, seek 'Films on Demand";  Open; Search for "Out of Thin Air -- Mystery of Matter -- Search for the Elements"  and you will find http://fod.infobase.com.proxy.its.virginia.edu/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=111632
    • To find videos on all our topics, search inside Films On Demand
    • Overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgxvuA-9q58&t=6s
    • By Preistly https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1vGBFIw7I0
    •  by Lavoisier  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HahAGmMewLU
  • Rd. “Lavoisier’s Elements of Chemistry”: (Collab) https://web.lemoyne.edu/giunta/EA/LAVPREFann.HTML
  • Rd.  Douglas Allchin, “PHLOGISTON AFTER OXYGEN” Ambix 39: 110-116. (Collab)
  • OPT: essays on interpreting the competing models of Phlogiston/study of Oxygen (Collab)
  • Really good and readable: James Ladyman, “Structural realism versus standard scientific realism: the case of phlogiston and dephlogisticated air,” Synthese (2011) 180:87–101 DOI 10.1007/s11229-009-9607-8
  • Additional presentation of Lavoisier’s own account: Nicholas W. Best, “Lavoisier’s ‘‘Reflections on phlogiston’’ II: on the nature of heat,” Found Chem (2016) 18:3–13 DOI 10.1007/s10698-015-9236-x
  • More technical: Gerhard Schurz, “Structural correspondence, indirect reference, and partial truth: phlogiston theory and Newtonian mechanics,” Synthese (2011) 180:103–120 DOI 10.1007/s11229-009-9608-7.
  • fyi -- Check this title on UVA Virgo and consult on any of our topics! "A History of Science": http://xtf.lib.virginia.edu/xtf/view?docId=legacy/uvaBook/tei/Wil4Sci.xml;brand=default;
  • Work: read the basic assignments; write -- construct paradigms for your choice of something new in the scientific reasoning on Oxygen/elements.

 

B. Light and Electromagnetism

  • Rd. “Evolution of Physical Sciences” –relook at pp. 9-12.
  • Rd. Polkinghorne, pp. 1-4 (A Short Intro to Quantum Theory --book – you should buy immediately)
  • Rd. Maxwell, “A Dynamic Theory of the Electromagnetic Field” (Pdf in collab) – read what you can, glance at some of the mathematics but keep moving through (gaining intuitions as they come, but not seeking to master, except for more careful consideration of the qualitative lessons).
  • Rd. EM: “Introduction to Electromagnetic Theory” -- Pdf in collab) – read what you can, glance at some of the mathematics but keep moving through – this is strictly illustrations for the above, just play quickly
·         Take literally only 10 min to scroll through “ A-students-guide-to-maxwells-equations-D.-FleischLEISC.pdf,” – just to give your eyes a first visual look at what the theory looks like --- in collab…..
  • VIDEO INTROS: these are not required, but in case you want to sit back and learn with your eyes/ears, the library offers access to these and more:

http://www.learner.org/courses/physics/....  These include videos and online narrative texts. If you are new to all this, I highly recommend them. Our course will be looking a range of approaches to elements and particle (chemical and physical)”

  • On Maxwell and related: Electromagnetic Radiation: Wave and Particle Modes of Light (Full Video) (25:58) : go to virgo, seek 'Films on Demand";  Open; Search for "Electromagnetic Radiation and you will find http://fod.infobase.com.proxy.its.virginia.edu/p_ViewVideo.aspx?xtid=40300
  • Here is a set from a diff series, these are for Electro-Mag,: http://virginia.kanopystreaming.com.proxy.its.virginia.edu/video/charged-world

§  A Charged World Episode 28 of Physics and Our Universe: How It All Works Series

§  The Electric Field Episode 29 of Physics and Our Universe: How It All Works Series

  • Work: read the basic assignments; write -- construct paradigms for your choice of something new in the scientific reasoning on Light/Electromagnetism
  1.       ( Feb 9) Selections from Newton's Principia: with guest Michael Weinman
  • We will examine excerpts from the Principia, for a close study of several principles, along with scholia and commentary: Rd. Dana Densmore, Newton’s Principia: The Central Argument: “Laws of Motion,” pp. 29-46; “General Scholium,” pp. 485-489.
  • Video’s for support: go to Virgo, seek 'Films on Demand"; Open; Search for: (a) Newton's Laws of Motion (9 min); (b) Sir Isaac Newton: The Gravity of Genius – overview 45 min –introduces all major parts of his life and discoveries….(c) Linear Momentum and Newton's Laws of Motion
  • Optional: (a) find a biography of Newton to peruse -- such as parts of a text like Richard S. Westfall, Never at Rest: A Biography of Isaac Newton (Cambridge Paperback Library) ; or (b) online bios -- such as http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Biographies/Newton.html (a site with very interesting hyperlinks).
  • Work: read the basic assignments; write -- construct a paradigm for the reasoning offered in support of a selected principle.

 

  1. ( Feb 16) Brian Rotman, Mathematics as sign (2000)
  • Here is an engaging semiotic study of mathematical reasoning and discourse (with grounding in Peirce, Deleuze, phil of mathematics, literary theory)
  • Work: read the basic assignments; write -- construct a paradigm for Rotman’s semiotic paradigm for mathematics.  Is this a “modern” paradigm?

 

  1. ( Feb 23) Surprising Discoveries about Light and Electromagnetism:

The emergence of post-Newtonian physics

  • Read John Polkinghorne, Quantum Theory: A Very Short Intro + several excerpts from longer texts.
  • Work: read the basic assignments; write -- construct a first paradigm for some element of post-Newtonian physics
  • Additional reading for those interested (for week 6 and 7): Stephen Toulmin ed, Physical Reality; William Rolnick, Remnants of the Fall: Revelations of Particle Secrets; T.R. Kelly ed., Molecular Machines.

 

        7-8 ( Mar 2 +Mar 16) Heisenberg and Copenhagen QED

  • Read Werner Heisenberg, Physics and Philosophy (p numbers for 2 paper editions: 1999 + 2007)
  • Ch II Hist of QT: 40-41 (14-15): probability waves: Zain; 43 (16-17): Complementary: Essam
  • III Copenhag: 46-48 (20-22): prob. Function and complem. Jeremy; 48-49 (22-top24)= particles or just waves? Andy; 52-56 (26-30): uncertainty. Zhe
  • IV Atomic 62-3 (36-37): Heraclitus: Patrick; 70-72(44-46): modern vs platonic particle. Patrick\72(46): in case anybody wants to offer a word on eigenvectors/values (but not nec)
  • V Dev since Descartes 78-92 (52-66): Briefly outline three paradigms: Descartes + Einstein (as briefly told) + Kant on the reality/or ideality of knowl of the world (5-6 min): Jeremy
  • VI QT and other sciences: 94-100 (68-74): Briefly outline paradigm of system of physics by Newton (as given here) + how specific claims of each the following (as noted here only) lead away from that paradigm: Faraday + Maxwell +Lorentz (just briefly) (5-6 min):  Essam
  • VII Relativity: 110-121: Briefly outline paradigms of special, then general relativity (as given here only – ie just his brief account) + briefly comment on how these lead away from Newtonian paradigm (as in last chapter) (6-7min): Zain
  • IX QT and Matter: 149-162:  In prep for our reading of Rainbow and Word, briefly outline H’s accounts of theory of matter/atom, Galileo thru Lorentz (4-5min):  Zhe
  • X Language and reality Whole chapter: What overall lessons do you learn from H about language and physical reality? (Please give us your overall lesson, not each detail – except for some illustrations) (6 min): Jeremy + Andy
  • XI Human Thinking: 198-206: What overall lessons do you learn from H about physics’ contrib to human thinking? (Please offer a briefer overview than the one for language) (5 min):  Patrick + Andy
  • Work: read the basic assignment; write -- construct a second paradigm, now some element of the Copenhagen model for post-Newtonian physics.

         9. ( Mar 23)  From Physics to Biology: The Physics of Organisms

  • Read selected chapters from Mae-Wan Ho, The Rainbow and the Worm (2008): Please read thru these chapters in Worm and Rainbow.  The goal will be to read backwards prudently: to start with the end and get a sense of where he is going, skipping details that you would not handle easily. Then working back to a prior section. Then looking at the beginning for as much time if you have…. We shall have time just to touch on this book returning to it the week after. But if you skim as I suggest, I think your impressions will provide a nice preconscious background……
  • The end: Chapters 18, 19 just skim, 20 have fun.
  • Before the end: read through these chapters not worrying this time about taking any technicalities it challenge you: 10, 11, 12, 13 14.
  • The beginning: only for as much time as you have, you may want to get a feel for how the book begins, Ch. 1-3…. Skim 4-7 (just what captures attention otherwise move on)… 8-9 as you can (some good lines!)….
  • For in class work: choose any chapter you’d like to present – let me know!
  • Work: read the basic assignments; offer a paradigm of a selected effort in this collection, or a more general paradigm if you prefer.

     10. (Mar 30) Quantum Aspects of Life

  • Read selected chapters as well from Abbot, Davies, and Pati eds., Quantum Aspects of Life (2007):
  • Ch 18 Hameroff, That's Life the geometry of Electron Clouds -- along with my attached article on Judaism and Physics which is a Commentary on Hameroff's work .
  • Ch 10 Toward Understanding the Origin of Genetic Languages (Patel);
  •  Ch 1, A quantum Origin of Life? (Davies)
  • Ch 2 Quantum Coherence... Replicator
  1. (Apr 6) Particles, Waves, and Information: that's life, part to whole to part.

      A. William Rolnick, Remnants of the Fall (2003)

  • CH 1 And the Overture: let’s all read this and bring any Q’s to start class – The overture is of course that cheesy poetry but I realize that the underlying focus on (a) symmetry and then (b) what a fall from symmetry means in the early miliseconds of the big bang – //Please come to clas already having made your own idea of what symmetry is and why it is lost with mass and thus with gaugons. – 7 min
  • Ch 2: The Matter We Know-Zhe –give us those defs and role in information!  4 min
  • Ch . 4: On Quantum Objects-Zhe – key give us those defs and role in information – 5min
  • Ch. 5: Quantum Objects Part II-Zain—spin, phase (wave), and fields -- give us those and role in information—5 min
  • Ch. 7: Particles of Matter-Patrick- fermions and hadrons – intro defs and role in information – 4 min (Patrick let us know if you’re not coming!)
  • Ch. 8: Basic Interactions: GAUGE is key!! –Zhe/Patrick:  introduce GAUGE and why so critical for information – 5 min
  • Ch 9:pp. 102-105: Symmetry and slide—Brief please but sharp/clear: what is implic for information? –Essam 4 min
  • Ch 11: Particle Flavors (and use Chap 10 for your prep) what is role of lepton/baryon flavor in Information? –Zhe – 4min+
  • Ch. 12: Larger Flavor-What is role of quarks and hadrons in information? –Andy- 5min
  • Ch. 13: Gauge-Everyone check quickly (eg the quage bosons and role in information--- (FYI Higgs is here too) 5 min
  • Ch.  14 Strong Interaction- mesons, hadrons and role of color in information: Essam/Zain—5 min
  • Ch. 15: Weak Interaction—Lots of them!  Key chapt for information – Jeremy 5+ min

     A. Back to Quantum/Life: (but now with particles and information on your minds)

  • ​Ch 1 All of us: offer overview of the pt of the book: Ans: what is relation of live to quantum information processing and its (computation-like) biophysics?-7 min
  • Ch. 10: The Origin of Genetic Languages—What link betw information and biophys?-Patrick/Zhe- 5 min
  • Ch. 12: Of the Game of Life—Just offer us overview, not each detail—what lesson for US about quantum game theory and information? –Zain- 4+ min
  • Ch. 7: Memory and the Cytoskeleton—Key to information now in the cell onto the neural system! –Essam/Andy—5+ min
  • Ch. 18: The Geometry of Electron of Clouds- Andy: just review this in light of our information questions-4min
  • Conc: Ochs essay on Hameroff (Judaism and Physics)-Jeremy: think of rabbinic + biophysics—what relates them in this account?  Any implication for our study of quantum information? To illustrate your reading, Imagine substituting one other contemp study for the rabbinics side – 6min

12. (Apr 13) Alexander Wendt, Quantum Mind and Social Science (Cambridge University Press, 2015)

13. (Apr 20) Alexander Wendt, Quantum Mind and Social Science

14. (Apr 27)  tba