History, Philosophy, and
Social Studies of Science
and Medicine (HiPSS)

Director: Robert J. Richards, SS 205, 702-8391
Secretary: Srilathe Prabahkar, SS 207, 702-8391

Program of Study

The Bachelor of Arts program in the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Science and Medicine (HiPSS) is designed for College students interested in studying science in terms of its historical development, conceptual structure, and social role. Students in the program must do sufficient work in one or more sciences to acquire a sound foundation for studying the nature of science. After securing this basis, they are expected to gain an understanding of how science arose and how the content of scientific thought has changed and is changing, because of both its own internal dynamic and its interaction with the larger society in which it is embedded.

The HiPSS program is designed to make possible the study of a wide range of social, historical, and conceptual issues relating to science. Students completing the program follow a number of different careers. Some pursue graduate study in the history and philosophy of science or in some field of science. Others find the program valuable preparation for the study of medicine, law, public policy, or science journalism. More generally, the goal of the program is to teach students to reasonably interpret and evaluate science and science policy. Some students choose to construct a degree program combining the requirements for the HiPSS concentration with those for a concentration in the physical or biological sciences. Others, having met the HiPSS program requirements, use electives to broaden their liberal arts education.

HiPSS Sponsor. The Morris Fishbein Center for the History of Science and Medicine sponsors the HiPSS program. Further information can be obtained in the center's office (SS 207).

Program Requirements

Elements of the Curriculum. The curriculum of the program contains five principal elements:

1. The Foundation. All HiPSS concentrators are required to complete a Common Core biological sciences sequence; a Common Core physical sciences sequence (Physics 121-122-123 or equivalent, Chemistry 111-112-113 or 121-122-123, or equivalent); a mathematics sequence (Mathematics 131-132-133 or higher-level math sequence), two quarters of which can be used to fulfill the College mathematical sciences requirement; and the three-quarter sequence surveying the growth of science in Western civilization: Science, Culture, and Society in Western Civilization (History 173-174-175), which fulfills the Common Core civilizational studies requirement.

2. Advanced Science. In addition to the science courses normally taken as part of the Common Core, students are expected to take three courses in science or mathematics beyond the introductory level. They select these advanced courses according to their special aims, their area of concentration, and the subject of the bachelor's thesis.

3. Areas of Concentration. All students in the program determine a particular major area of concentration in the history, philosophy, ethics, and/or social contexts of science and medicine. In consultation with the program director and student adviser, they select five courses to constitute this concentration area. For example, some students may be particularly interested in the epistemological issues related to the growth of science; others may be especially concerned with the intellectual and social interactions between changing scientific knowledge and institutions, on the one hand, and evolving social institutions, on the other; a third group may wish to emphasize the moral and political problems attending the employment of technology generated by advances in science.

4. Tutorials. Each student takes two tutorial courses, usually early in his or her program. These tutorials are small courses (from three to ten students) that emphasize discussion and writing. Courses for the coming year are listed in the HiPSS office.

5. Bachelor's Thesis and Senior Seminar. Each student completes the program with a bachelor's thesis (HiPSS 299). Students should discuss their proposal for their bachelor's thesis in the spring of their third year with the program director. In consultation with the program director, students then sign up for a reading and research course with an appropriate faculty member. This research course should lead to a thesis integrating the students' academic studies and bringing them to bear on a significant question related to some historical, conceptual, ethical, or social aspect of science. During the senior year, students also enroll in a designated one-quarter seminar (HiPSS 298) that deals with general aspects of history, philosophy, and social studies of science.

Summary of Requirements

Honors. Students who meet the following criteria are considered for graduation with special honors: (1) overall grade point average of 3.3 or better, (2) completion of a bachelor's thesis of A quality, and (3) a majority vote by the faculty in favor of honors.

Admission. To be admitted, students should have completed at least two of the four foundation course sequences listed in the preceding section and should have maintained a 3.2 grade point average or better in previous course work. Admission is completed when students have taken the remaining foundation courses and have formulated a plan of study; this is normally done prior to the third year. Application for admission should be made to the director of the program, who advises students about the requirements, arranges a preliminary plan of study, and discusses scheduling conflicts and special cases. Thereafter, a student chooses, in consultation with the director, a permanent adviser from the staff.

Grading. Courses may be taken on a P/N or P/F basis except that students concentrating in HiPSS must receive letter grades in all courses aimed at meeting the requirements of the degree program.

Advisers. The faculty for the HiPSS program is drawn from many parts of the University. The following have direct responsibility for admitting students, formulating curriculum, and advising:

JEAN COMAROFF, Bernard E. and Ellen C. Sunny Distinguished Service Professor, Department of Anthropology; Committee on Human Nutrition & Nutritional Biology, Morris Fishbein Center for the History of Science & Medicine, and the College; Committee on African & African-American Studies; Chairman, Department of Anthropology

ARNOLD I. DAVIDSON, Professor, Department of Philosophy, Committees on the Conceptual Foundations of Science and General Studies in the Humanities, and the College

DANIEL GARBER, Lawrence Kimpton Distinguished Service Professor, Department of Philosophy, Committee on the Conceptual Foundations of Science, and the College; Chairman, Committee on the Conceptual Foundations of Science; Associate Provost of the University

ANN DUDLEY GOLDBLATT, Lecturer, Humanities and Social Sciences Collegiate Divisions and Department of Medicine; Assistant Director, MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics

ROBERT J. RICHARDS, Professor, Departments of History, Philosophy, and Psychology and the College; Director, Program in History, Philosophy, & Social Studies of Science & Medicine

LAINIE ROSS, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics and MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics; Assistant Director, MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics

HOWARD STEIN, Professor, Department of Philosophy and Committee on the Conceptual Foundations of Science; Director, Morris Fishbein Center for the History of Science and Medicine

GEORGE W. STOCKING, JR., Stein-Freiler Distinguished Service Professor, Department of Anthropology and Committee on the Conceptual Foundations of Science

NOEL M. SWERDLOW, Professor, Departments of Astronomy & Astrophysics and History, Committee on the Conceptual Foundations of Science, and the College

WILLIAM WIMSATT, Professor, Department of Philosophy, Committees on the Conceptual Foundations of Science, Evolutionary Biology, and General Studies in the Humanities, Morris Fishbein Center for the History of Science and Medicine, and the College

Examples of Area Concentrations and Sample Curricula for Those Areas. The following are meant to illustrate the kinds of concentrations students might choose. They are not prescriptive, only suggestive. Students should consult with the director of the program and examine this course catalog and the quarterly Time Schedules for the particular courses that might constitute their area of concentration.

History and Philosophy of Biological Science

HiPSS 227. Philosophy of Biology
HiPSS 236. History and Theory of Human Evolution
HiPSS 237. Apes and Human Evolution
HiPSS 257. History of Molecular Biology
HiPSS 258. Darwin's Romantic Biology

History and Philosophy of Physical Sciences

HiPSS 252. The Conceptual Development of Physics I
HiPSS 262. Conceptual Development of Physics II
HiPSS 277. History of the Physical Sciences from 1700 to the Present
HiPSS 282. Conceptual Development of Physics III
HiPSS 290. General History of Astronom

Philosophy of Science

HiPSS 220. Philosophy of Science
HiPSS 223. Philosophy of Social Sciences
HiPSS 227. Philosophy of Biology I
HiPSS 249. Gender Issues in the Analysis of Science
HiPSS 270. British Empiricists

History of Medicine and Medical Ethics

BioSci 292. Medical Odysseys
HiPSS 210. Introduction to Ethics
HiPSS 238. The Moral Authority of Nature
HiPSS 273. Medicine and Culture
SocSci 269. Medicine and Law

Courses

Foundation Sequence

Hist 173-174-175. Science, Culture, and Society in Western Civilization I, II, III. Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Tutorials

HiPSS 189. Tutorial. Staff. Autumn.

HiPSS 190. Tutorial. Staff. Winter.

HiPSS 191. Tutorial. Staff. Spring.

Seminar and Research

HiPSS 297. Readings and Research in History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Science and Medicine. Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

HiPSS 298. Senior Seminar: My Favorite Readings in the History and Philosophy of Science. R. Richards. Winter.

HiPSS 299. Bachelor's Thesis. Staff. Autumn, Winter, Spring.

Concentration Courses

Courses other than those included in the preceding sample curricula or in the list that follows may be appropriate concentration courses; consult the quarterly Time Schedules for possible additions.

HiPSS 204. Philosophy of Mind (=Philos 235). M. Aydede. Winter.

HiPSS 205. Intermediate Logic I: Introduction to Model Theory (=CFS 336, Philos 396). D. Malament. Winter.

HiPSS 207. Elementary Logic (=CFS 335, Philos 300). T. Cohen. Summer, Autumn.

HiPSS 209. Intermediate Logic II: Undecidability and Incompleteness (=CFS 340, Philos 397). D. Malament. Spring.

HiPSS 210. Introduction to Ethics (=GS Hum 292, Philos 210). A. Davidson. Autumn.

HiPSS 211. The Practice of Anthropology: Celebrity and Science in Paleoanthropology (=Anthro 214/383). R. Tuttle. Winter.

HiPSS 212. History of Science: Early Modern Period to Enlightenment (=Hist 249). Staff. Winter.

HiPSS 220. Philosophy of Science (=CFS 333, Philos 320). J. Cat. Winter.

HiPSS 223. Philosophy of the Social Sciences (=CFS 377, Philos 329). W. Wimsatt. Spring.

HiPSS 224. Philosophical Issues of Mathematical and Physical Geometry (=CFS 334, Philos 321). H. Stein. Spring.

HiPSS 227. Philosophy of Biology (=CFS 376, Philos 327). W. Wimsatt. Spring.

HiPSS 231. History of Sexuality after Foucault (=CFS 326, Philos 318). A. Davidson. Autumn.

HiPSS 236. History and Theory of Human Evolution (=Anthro 384, EvBio 384). R. Tuttle. Winter.

HiPSS 237. Apes and Human Evolution (=Anthro 386, EvBiol 384). R. Tuttle. Spring.

HiPSS 238. The Moral Authority of Nature (=CFS 362, Hist 256/356). PQ: Advanced standing and consent of instructor. L. Daston. Autumn.

HiPSS 241. Carnap and Logical Empiricism (=CFS 341, Philos 372). H. Stein. Winter.

HiPSS 244. Weimar Bodies: Fantasies about the Sexualized Body in Weimar Art, Literature, Science, and Medicine (=ArtH 268/368, COVA 257, GendSt 268, German 282). PQ: Advanced standing. Knowledge of German helpful but not required. S. Gilman. Autumn.

HiPSS 245. Sigmund Freud: Psyche and Society (=German 370, Philos 345, SocTh 308). PQ: Advanced standing. J. Lear, E. Santner. Winter.

HiPSS 249. Gender Issues in the Analysis of Science (=CFS 338). J. Cat. Autumn.

HiPSS 252. The Conceptual Development of Physics I (=CFS 311, Philos 352). H. Stein. Autumn.

HiPSS 254. Philosophy of Mind and Science Fiction (=GS Hum 297, Philos 234). W. Wimsatt. Winter.

HiPSS 256. History of Statistics (=CFS 329, Stat 267). PQ: Prior statistics course. S. Stigler. Spring.

HiPSS 257. History of Molecular Biology (=CFS 361, Hist 253/353). Staff. Spring.

HiPSS 258. Darwin's Romantic Biology (=CFS 385, Fndmtl 235, Hist 250/350, Philos 326). R. Richards. Autumn.

HiPSS 260. Metaphysics and Natural Philosophy in the Seventeenth Century I (=CFS 380, Philos 364). H. Stein. Autumn.

HiPSS 261. Metaphysics and Natural Philosophy in the Seventeenth Century II (=CFS 381, Philos 368). PQ: Philos 364. H. Stein. Winter.

HiPSS 262. Conceptual Development of Physics II (=CFS 312, Philos 362). H. Stein. Winter.

HiPSS 263. Philosophy of History: Dilthey and Collingwood (=CFS 393, Fndmtl 286, Hist 255/355, Philos 363). R. Richards. Winter.

HiPSS 268. Goethe: Literature and Science (=CFS 392, German 380, Hist 251/351, Philos 386). R. Richards. Winter.

HiPSS 270. British Empiricists (=CFS 387, Philos 370). H. Stein. Autumn.

HiPSS 271. History of Science since Kuhn. Staff. Autumn.

HiPSS 273. Medicine and Culture (=Anthro 243/403). J. Comaroff. Winter.

HiPSS 274. Romantic Idealism: Fichte, Schelling, and Schlegel (=CFS 374, German 481, Hist 254/354, Philos 379). PQ: Knowledge of German helpful. R. Richards. Autumn.

HiPSS 276. History of German Science. Staff. Winter.

HiPSS 277. History of the Physical Sciences from 1700 to the Present (=CFS 327, Hist 316). Staff. Winter.

HiPSS 282. Conceptual Development of Physics III (=CFS 313, Philos 382). H. Stein. Spring.

HiPSS 286. History of Cosmology (=Astron 386, CFS 388). PQ: Consent of instructor. N. Swerdlow. Winter.

HiPSS 290. General History of Astronomy (=Astron 381, CFS 353). N. Swerdlow. Winter.

HiPSS 296. Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theory (=ComLit 344, German 395, MAPH 310). S. Gilman, F. Meltzer. Autumn.