Physics and the Evolution of Western Civilization PHYS 302

Transcription

1 Physics and the Evolution of Western Civilization PHYS 302 Dr. Tariq H. Gilani Office: Caputo 236 Phone: (717) M, W, & F 10 10:50 AM Office Hours: Posted in front of my office, or by appointment

2 The Main Question How did Western Civilization evolve and what is the role of Physics in its evolution? Roots of Western Civilization? Starting from Ancient Civilizations Western Civilization through the eyes of science. The physics behind key inventions and devices. How developments in physics affected society and how developments in society affected physics? The connections between science and society. The focus is on the West but the story cannot be fully examined without investigating the interactions with other civilizations throughout the history. Different Perspectives Writing & Public Speaking Skills

3 What will be covered? Part 1) The origins of Physics: Wisdom of Ancients. Greeks Revolution. Part 2) Romans Era Part 3) Arab Revolution Part 4) Western Revolution: Science and the Industrial Revolution The Rise of Modern Physics Part 5) Future Tech Evaluation and Grading: Midterm Exam Final Exam 25% Each of following Research Paper Attendance & Class Participation Both exams may be in the form of oral presentations or essay format.

4 Research Paper A semester long research paper is required. Each student will chose a different subject to investigate. An initial abstract will be due early in the semester (Friday, Sep 8 th ). Then first report will be due in the middle of the semester (Fri, Oct 13 th ). The final paper will be due during exam week. Attendance & Class Participation This class is about discussing the ideas and discoveries that affected the evolution of society. Your voice and views need to be heard. Homework assignments will be given throughout the semester, in the form of short papers and/or in-class oral reports. Every Friday is Students presentation day

5 Resources Library will be our main source of gathering reliable information, searching papers and books. To get help contact: Science Librarian: Melissa Gold at or Recommendations 1. History of knowledge by Charles Van Doren. 2. The History of Physics by Thomas Milhorn. 3. The Story of Physics by Anne Rooney. 4. The illustrative History of Physics by Tom Jackson. 5. Internet research and published papers (I will provide some).

6 The Main Question Evolution of Western civilization Roots of civilization Starting from Ancient Civilizations Evolution of civilization is directly related to human progress A mixed bag Some foolishness in all fields Hard to argue if we have really progress in general governance, overall human behavior, etc. How about progress in knowledge? Somehow we keep on moving forward and grow as time passes Progress in nature of things No question that we have and we are progressing every day

7 Not only does each individual progress from day to day but mankind as a whole constantly progress in proportion as universe grows older In our lives, we learn more and more day by day Retain some at least Blaise Pascal Add to our knowledge Societies (human race collectively) behaves exactly similarly Retain some from past and keep on adding from generations to generations Memories of individual can fail, persons die BUT Memories of societies are eternal and keep on improving with time The rate at which human knowledge increases is painfully slow, although rate varies in history Very fast in 5 th century BC and Today Very slow during other times But never stops

8 What type of knowledge? Knowledge of Particulars General Knowledge Imagine a primitive man Knows where he is, knows enough to get around Knows how to survive Infect posses innumerable knowledge, for example: Nature of Things. Causes of things. Reasoning. We do know causes (at least some) And we pass on in generations Do animal posses general knowledge? Birds fly. Tiger is dangerous and come to drink water at a particular stream in the evening. So it is safe to drink water from that stream in the morning. If they do, they can not tell We can say they don t and be HAPPY This kind of knowledge is filled in memories of all animals also In this course, we talk about progress in General Knowledge and role of Physics in this progress

9 Does knowledge guarantee happiness? I think I could turn and live with animals, They are so placid and self-contained Not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth In song of Myself, Walt Whitman Animals do not seem to be unhappy at least in a way humans are Many humans are unhappy either because of what they know or what they don t know BUT Desire to know when you realize you don t know is universal and irresistible No human being (especially a child) can overcome this desire

10 Ancient Civilizations Started around 5000 to 9000 years ago at several different places Along sides of rivers The claims are that earliest civilizations started in between 8000 to 3500 BC Some of the earliest civilizations are found in There are some claims that earliest civilizations started 30, 000 years ago. Egypt --- along river Nile Indus --- along Indus river China --- along Yellow river Writing was believed to be invented in Mesopotamia by Sumerians (in Southern Iraq) Math was believed to be invented in Egypt Mesopotamia --- along Tigris and Euphrates Most important are Sumerian, Akkadian and Babylonia

11 There have been great civilization in their times and then disappeared Ancient Civilizations that disappeared Search and read about Ancient civilizations We will discuss on Wednesday Also start thinking about topic of your research report No class on Friday, Sep 01 Questions? Concerns? Comments?