- Christian Roots: Medieval and Early Modern Science

Institution:

The Evergreen State College

Subject:

Description:

Faculty: Kevin Francis (history/philosophy of science), Frederica Bowcutt (botany, history of science) Major areas of study include European history, history of science, philosophy, European ethnobotany, book arts and expository writing. Class Standing: This all-level program offers appropriate support for freshmen as well as supporting and encouraging those ready for advanced work. We will explore the medieval and early modern influences on western science. In doing so, we will study the development of European culture between approximately 1100 to 1750 through the prism of astronomy, botany, medicine and natural philosophy. We will also examine the influence of Christianity on early scientific understanding of the world. This program investigates the following questions. How did classical pagan philosophy and Christianity shape the way medieval and Renaissance Europeans interpreted and represented the world How did humanism, the rise of science and changing technology transform the way Renaissance Europeans made sense of the world In what ways, if any, do these earlier forms of understanding nature inform our current practices in art and science How does the emphasis on the rational, scientific approach to knowing influence our life today How does our understanding of the natural world influence our beliefs about our spiritual existence And, finally, how does one comprehend and relate to historical epochs with a set of beliefs and practices that seem, at first glance, very foreign to our own way of understanding and interacting with the world In the fall, we will develop a grounding in the precipitating factors, cultural and scientific, that led to the Middle Ages. We will study Greek, Roman and Arabic thinkers such as Hippocrates, Aristotle, Dioscorides, and Avicenna who influenced natural philosophy. We will also examine selected philosophical and theological issues that vexed scholars in Medieval monasteries and universities. Finally, we will examine the practice of European ethnobotany through herbals, horticulture, and medical history. Students will begin a book arts project that continues through winter quarter. In the winter, we will address the emerging humanism of the Renaissance and its influence on the study of nature, especially in the areas of botany, astronomy and medicine. During the Middle Ages, these sciences were heavily shaped by Christian values and beliefs. With the establishment of institutions of higher learning and numerous translations of classical pagan works, the seeds for a new scientific enterprise were planted. New technology, global exploration, and artistic movements also contributed to the scientific revolution that took place in the early modern period. Total: 16 credits each quarter. Enrollment: 48 Special Expenses: $150 for art supplies. Program is preparatory for careers and future studies in the humanities, education, environmental studies, natural sciences, healing arts and ethnobotany. This program is also listed under Programs for Freshmen; Culture, Text and Language; Environmental Studies; Expressive Arts; and Scientific Inquiry.

Credits:

16.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.evergreen.edu

Phone Number:

(360) 867-6170

Regional Accreditation:

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Calendar System:

Quarter

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