SOCIOLOGY 242

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The first part of this mid-level course will examine the underlying philosophical and sociological foundations of modern science and rationality. It will begin by analyzing the differences between the ancient Greek and medieval view of physics, causality, movement, and organic nature and the modern worldview of natural science in Galileo, Descartes, and Newton. We will then turn to study the debates within the philosophy of science (Burtt, Popper, Kuhn, Quine, Feyerabend, and Rorty) and the sociology of science (Scheler, Ellul, Leiss, Marcuse, and Habermas) about the nature of scientific inquiry and the social/political meaning of scientific discoveries. Does science investigate the essential reality of nature or is it more influenced by the wider social relations and practical activity of modern industrial life? Does science reflect objective reality and universal truth or is it a social construct reflecting the particular needs and functional interests of society? The course then turns to examine the applied relationship between science and society. We will deal with the full range of the rationalization of modern society: the application of science and technological rationality (efficiency, productivity, and functionality) to economic (workplace), political (state), and social (cultural legitimation) institutions. We will examine the process of modernization and rationalization in science, labor, politics, the academy, nature, and ecology. Finally, we will discuss the debates within the environmental movement among the deep ecologists, social ecologists, and radical ecologists. Of particular importance is the latter's return to the Greek polis and Aristotelian physics for insights into the crisis of Western reason and Enlightenment science and its vision of small-scale technology, local communities, and participatory democracy. Readings will be from T. Kuhn, E. A. Burtt, M. Berman, H. Braverman, C. Lasch, F. Capra, M. Horkheimer, H. Marcuse, and C. Merchant.

REQUIRED READINGS

T. Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
M. Berman, The Reenchantment of the World
H. Braverman, Labor and Monopoly Capital
Aristotle, Physics and Metaphysics (selections)
E. A. Burtt, The Metaphysical Foundations of Modern Science
M. Horkheimer, Eclipse of Reason
C. Lasch, The Culture of Narcissism
J. Habermas, Toward a Rational Society
B. McKibben, The End of Nature
F. Capra, The Turning Point: Science, Society, and the Rising Culture

On Reserve in Treleaven House and on Library ERES:
Max Weber, "Science as a Vocation," chapter 22 in Readings in
Introductory Sociology, edited by Dennis Wrong and Harry Gracey

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

There will be a mid-term and final paper due the last day of class. Questions will be given out prior to the mid-term exam from which two will be chosen the day of the exam. Class attendance is naturally required, as is participation in class discussions. The goal of the course is to encourage students to become involved in their own enlightenment. The final grade will be based on the mid-term, final paper, and class participation. Office hours are MWF 8:30-10:00 AM in Treleaven House, Room 202.

OVERVIEW OF SCHEDULE AND REQUIRED READINGS

 WEEKS