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Re: history of science



Title: Re: history of science
Greetings to Ludwik  & all.

An excellent source for information, graphics, etc. about the history of physics is the
 American Institute of Physics Center For History of Physics.   "A mission to preserve and make known the history of modern physics and allied fields including astronomy, geophysics, optics, and the like."   http://www.aip.org/history
They also have a listing of various syllabi at http://www.aip.org/history/syllabi/

You might also be interested in Roger Stueuwer's paper comparing the history of physics from the point of view of a physicist and of a historian. It is on the web at :
http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~jossem/ICPE/B3.html

Finally, I reproduce below the section on History,Culture, and Philosophy of Physics which appeared in my Resource Letter  in the June 2000 issue of AJP. That is available on line at
http://www.physics.ohio-state.edu/~jossem/AJP502.pdf    

I hope you will find some of this useful to you.

History, Philosophy, and Cultural Aspects

  In 1928 in Gottingen, while working with Born, he (V.F. Weisskopf) expressed his fear that the life in science, as it seemed to him, would isolate him form the concerns of humanity. But Born calmed him down saying 'Stay in physics. You will see how deeply the new physics is involved with human affairs.'   From: Physics and Society - Essays in Honor of Victor Frederick Weisskopf By the International Community of Physicists,  edited by V. Stefan,  (AIP Press/Springer-Verlag, New York, 1998) p.24.

131.  Special Issue: The Physics Community and the Wider World,  Physics Today  52, (3)  (1999).

132 American Institute of Physics Center For History of Physics.   "A mission to preserve and make known the history of modern physics and allied fields including astronomy, geophysics, optics, and the like."   http://www.aip.org/history

133. The Physicists: The History of a Scientific Community in Modern America,  With a New  Preface by the Author Daniel J. Kevles,   (Harvard University Press  1995).

134 Physics History from AAPT Journals,  edited by Melba. N. Phillips, (American Association of Physics Teachers,  College Park, MD.  1985).

135. History of Physics, S. P. Weart and M. N. Phillips (American Institute of Physics,  College Park, MD  1985). 

136. The Life and Times of Modern Physics: History of Physics II, edited by  Melba. N. Phillips (American Institute of Physics, College Park, MD. 1992). 

GGGG  "Resource Letter HP-1: History of Physics, " Stephen G. Brush, Am. J. Phys. 55, (8), 683-691, (1987)


137. The Birth of Particle Physics   edited by L. M. Brown and Lillian Hoddeson, (Cambridge University Press,  1983).

WWW   Experiment and Theory in Physics   Max Born,  Dover Publications, New York, 1956).

QQQ.    Physics in Perspective, Physics Survey Committee - National Research Council.,  Volume I (1972), Volume IIA (1972), Volume IIB (1973), Volume IIC (1973),  (National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C.).      
This multi-volume survey of physics is a major source of information about physics, and about its interfaces with other sciences and with society in the era of the 60's and 70's.  Sections on Physics and Education  are to be found in Volume I, Section 11, Physics in Education and Education in Physics, pp. 723-805,  and in Volume IIA, Section XIII, Education, pp. 1133--1263.

138. Little Science, Big Science . . .And Beyond,   Derek J. Desolla Price  (Columbia University Press  1986).

139. Einstein: A Centenary Volume   edited by A.P. French,  (Harvard University Press  1979).

140. Who Got  Einstein's Office?    Ed Regis   (Addison-Wesley  1987)

141. Niels Bohr: A Centenary Volume, edited by A. P. French and P. J. Kennedy  (Harvard University Press 1985).

142. Galileo Galilei ,  James MacLachlan    (Oxford University Press 1999).

143. "Toward Preparing Students for Change: A Critical Discussion of the Contribution of the History of Physics in Physics Teaching",  W. Jung,   Science & Education   3   (2)  99-130  (1994 ).

144. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions , Third edition, Thomas S. Kuhn  (University of Chicago Press,  1996).

145. Explaining Science: A Cognitive Approach ,  R. N. Giere   (University of Chicago Press,  1988 ).

146. The Ring of Truth:  An Inquiry Into How We Know What We Know .  Philip  and Phylis Morrison  (Random House, NY  1987).

147. Introduction to Concepts and Theories in Physical Science  Second Edition 
Gerald Holton and Stephen G. Brush  (Addison Wesley  1973).

148. Concepts of Force   A Study in the Foundations of Dynamics   Max Jammer  (Harvard University Press  1957).

EEE  "Resource Letter PhM-1 on Philosophical Foundations of Classical Mechanics,"  Mary Hesse, Am. J. Phys. 32, (12), 905-911 (1964)

149. Doing Physics: How Physicists Take Hold of the World   Martin H. Krieger (Indiana University Press, 1992).

150. How Experiments End ,  Peter Galison   (University of Chicago Press,  1989). 

151. The Relevance of Physics,  Stanley L. Jaki  (University of Chicago Press, 1966).
"Physics has become the most powerful instrument at man's disposal for seeking out and revealing the hidden facts of inanimate nature. Are its methods and its insights equally relevant to other areas of human concern?" 

152. An Introduction to Science Studies : the philosophical and social aspects of science and technology , John Ziman  (Cambridge University Press,  Cambridge,  1987).

153. Of One Mind: The Collectivization of Science,  John Ziman  (American Institute of Physics, College Park, MD.  1995).

154. "Individuality and Common Purpose: The Philosophy of Science", R. S. Cohen  Science and & Education    393-407   (1994).

155. Science: The Center of Culture   I. I. Rabi  (World Publishing, 1970).

156. First You Build a Cloud And Other reflections on Physics as a Way of Life,   K. C. Cole (Harcourt Brace, New York, 1999).    Includes a useful bibliography.

157. The Thermodynamics Of Pizza: Essays On Science And Everyday Life, H. J. Morowitz,  ( Rutgers University Press, 1991).  

158. "Artistic Invitations to the Study of Physics," Millikan Lecture, Alan Holden, Am. J. Phys.  36  (12) 1082-1087  (1968).

159. "Poetry for Physicists",  S. Tobias and L. S. Abel   Am. J. Phys.  58  (9)  816-821  (1990).

EEE  "Resource Letter SL-1," Marjorie Nicholson, Am. J. Phys. 33, (3) 175-183, (1965).

EEE  "Resource Letter TLA-1 on Technology, Literature, and Art since World War II,"  William H. Davenport, Am. J. Phys. 38, (4) 407-414 (1970).

EEE "Resource Letter TLA-2:Technology, literature, and the arts, contemporary," William H. Davenport, Am. J. Phys. 43, (1) 4 -8 (1975).

EEE  "Resource Letter ColR-1 on Collateral Reading for Physics Courses," Alfred M. Bork and Arnold B. Arons, Am. J. Phys. 35, (2) 71-78 (1967)

160. Breaking the Science Barrier  How to explore and understand the sciences   Sheila Tobias and Carl T. Tomizuka  (College Entrance Examination Board,  New York,  1992).

161. Talks to Teachers on Psychology and to Students on Some of Life's  Ideals,  William James ,  (Dover Publications, New York,  1962).

162. Issues in Science Education: Science Competence in a Social and Ecological Context,  edited by T. Husen and J.P. Keeves,  (Pergamon Press 1991).

163. National Academy Of Sciences/National Research Council: Resources for involving scientists in education. 32    http://www.nas.edu/rise/

164. "Science Education Through the Eyes of a Physicist"    T. Schultz  (National Academy Of Sciences/National Research Council )  http://www.nas.edu/rise/backg2d.htm

Next fall I might be teaching the History of Science course for
non-science majors. Nobody wants to teach this course and
it may be my turn to take the burden. I know it can be great
course but not everybody is a good teacher for it. I am very
hesitant.

1) Can somebody suggest a good available textbook for not
very sophisticated students? Include the ISBN, if possible.

2) Also a textbook which can help me to develop the course.
The content of the course would be very much up to me.

3) I would like to sign for an Internet course on History of
Science, if it were available somewhere.

4) Advice from those who tried to teach a similar course
would also be appreciated. Please write to me about all
this in private <kowalskiL@mail.montclair.edu>, unless
you feel that what you have to say is worth sharing with
the entire list.

Ludwik Kowalski
341 Brook Ave.
Passaic, NJ, 07055

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