GENS 212 | Course Introduction and Application Information - Department of Political Science and International Relations

Course Name

History and Philosophy of Astronomy

Code	Semester	Theory (hour/week)	Application/Lab (hour/week)	Local Credits	ECTS
GENS 212	Fall/Spring	3	0	3	5

Prerequisites	None
Course Language	English
Course Type	Service Course
Course Level	First Cycle
Mode of Delivery	-
Teaching Methods and Techniques of the Course	-
National Occupation Classification	-
Course Coordinator	Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Fabrizio Pinto
Course Lecturer(s)	Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Fabrizio Pinto
Assistant(s)	-

Course Objectives	This course will examine the history and philosophy of astronomy in a way accessible to students of all majors and levels. Commencing from prehistory, emphasis will be placed both on lessons learned from past scientific developments and on open issues to stress the dynamics of discovery, including dark matter and cosmological questions about the Big Bang and the “multiverse.” Analysis of the impact of astronomical research will consider industrial benefits, mention of the novel phenomenon of commercial space and societal change from the artistic, literary, and philosophical standpoints, including also science straying into metaphysics. The contribution given by women throughout history will be explicitly showcased to provide a balanced view. Finally we shall consider the colonization of Mars, the dream of interstellar exploration, and the history and philosophical implications of the possible discovery of alien life in the universe, including intelligent civilizations.
Learning Outcomes	The students who succeeded in this course; Will be able to analyze historical astronomy issues at the elementary quantitative level (arithmetic and basic geometry); Will be able to draw conclusions about the challenges of scientific discovery and astronomy in particular by using basic knowledge; Will be able to discuss critically the interaction of economic, social and cultural factors determining scientific progress; Will be able to perform a literature review on historical astronomy. Will be able to define the general characteristics of unfolding scientific developments.
Course Description
Related Sustainable Development Goals

Course Category	Core Courses
	Major Area Courses
	Supportive Courses
	Media and Management Skills Courses
	Transferable Skill Courses

Week	Subjects	Related Preparation
1	Introduction, the Solar System, our Universe	No-advanced-math based concept summary and essential concepts from: NASAS: Planets, Moons, Asteroids, Comets and Meteors. BSF: Part I; BSFWB: Ch. 1; PINLN
2	Prehistory, archeoastronomy, ancient Egypt	No-advanced-math based concept summary and essential concepts from: RMPI: pp 3-47; TESA: Ch. 4 PINLN
3	Basic naked-eye astronomy, observing the sky	No-advanced-math based concept summary and essential concepts from: PINLN
4	Babylonian mathematics and astronomy	No-advanced-math based concept summary and essential concepts from: TESA: Ch. 1-3, 5 PINLN
5	Greek philosophy and astronomy I	No-advanced-math based concept summary and essential concepts from: TESA: Ch. 6 HWP: Part I–The Presocratics PSC: Prologue PINLN
6	Greek philosophy and astronomy II	No-advanced-math based concept summary and essential concepts from: HWP: Part II–Socrates, Plato, Aristotle GINPTO PINLN
7	The Middle Ages and Astronomy in Islam	No-advanced-math based concept summary and essential concepts from: PSC: Ch. 2 (Historical Perspectives) PINLN
8	The Copernican Revolution, Tycho, and Kepler	No-advanced-math based concept summary and essential concepts from: HWP: Bk 3, Pt. VI–The Rise of Science PINLN
9	Galileo, the telescope, Newton, and mechanics	No-advanced-math based concept summary and essential concepts from: PINGT; PSC: Ch. 3, 5 (gravitation) PINLN
10	Midterm I
11	Triumphs and failures. Einstein and relativity	No-advanced-math based concept summary and essential concepts from: PSC: Ch. 8, 9, 26 SGT: Part II PINLN
12	Space exploration. The race to the Moon	No-advanced-math based concept summary and essential concepts from: NASARS: 1-26; BSFWB: Ch. 4; BSF: Ch. 9 PINLN
13	Project I
14	Exploring Mars. Interstellar space. Alien life	No-advanced-math based concept summary and essential concepts from: BSFWB: Ch. 9; BSF: Ch. 13; NASAINS; ESAEXB: II.3; PINLN
15	Project II
16	Final exam

Course Notes/Textbooks

NASA Science, Our Solar System, https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/solar-system/our-solar-system/overview/ : NASAS.

A. B. Chace, The Rhind Mathematical Papyrus (Vol. I) (Mathematical Association of America, Oberlin, Ohio, 1927): RMPI.

O. Neugebauer, The Exact Sciences in Antiquity (Dover Publications, New York, 1969): TESA.

B. Russel, History of Western Philosophy (George Allen and Unwin Ltd., Great Britain, 1947): HWP.

T. S. Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (The University of Chicago, Chicago, 1970): SOSR.

K. Popper, The Logic of Scientific Discovery (Routledge, London, 2005): LOSD.

P. Feyerabend, “How to defend society against science,” in Scientific Revolutions, Ian Hacking, Ed. (Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1981): FEYDS.

O. Gingerich, “Was Ptolemy a fraud?” Q. Jl. R. astr. Soc., 21, 253-266 (1980): GINPTO.

F. Pinto, “Giants’ Talk,” The Griffith Observer, 2-18, 9, 1992: PINGT.

A. Einstein, Relativity: The special and general theory (Methuen & Co Ltd, 1920): SGT.

G. W. Mason, Physical Science Concepts (BYU Univ. Press, 1997): PSC.

NASA, Adventures in Rocket Science (NASA, 2008): NASARS.

D. Doody and G. Stephan, Basics of Spaceflight: Learners’ Workbook (JPL, 1995): BSFWB.

D. Doody, Basics of Spaceflight (JPL, 2011): BSF.

NASA, Mars InSight Launch Press Kit (2018): NASAINS.

F. Pinto, “Engines powered by the forces between atoms,” Am. Sci., 102, 280-289 (2014): PINEFBA.

ESA, Exobiology in the Solar System & The Search for Life on Mars (1999): ESAEXB.

F. Pinto, Lecture Notes: PINLN.

Suggested Readings/Materials

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Semester Activities	Number	Weigthing
Participation
Laboratory / Application
Field Work
Quizzes / Studio Critiques
Portfolio
Homework / Assignments
Presentation / Jury
Project	2	40
Seminar / Workshop
Oral Exams
Midterm	1	20
Final Exam	1	40
Total

Weighting of Semester Activities on the Final Grade	3	60
Weighting of End-of-Semester Activities on the Final Grade	1	40
Total

Semester Activities	Number	Duration (Hours)	Workload
Theoretical Course Hours (Including exam week: 16 x total hours)	16	3	48
Laboratory / Application Hours (Including exam week: '.16.' x total hours)	16		0
Study Hours Out of Class	16	4	64
Field Work			0
Quizzes / Studio Critiques			0
Portfolio			0
Homework / Assignments			0
Presentation / Jury			0
Project	2	14	28
Seminar / Workshop			0
Oral Exam			0
Midterms	1	5	5
Final Exam	1	5	5
		Total	150

#	Program Competencies/Outcomes	* Contribution Level
#	Program Competencies/Outcomes	1	2	3	4	5
1	To be able to use the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired in the areas of Political Science and International Relations.	-	-	-	-	-
2	To be able to have the basic knowledge of, and make use of other disciplines which contribute to the areas of Political Science and International Relations.	-	-	-	-	-
3	To be able to distinguish the differences between classical and contemporary theories and to assess their relationship.	-	-	-	-	-
4	To be able to recognize regional and global issues, and develop solutions based on research.	-	-	-	-	-
5	To be able to assess the acquired knowledge and skills in the areas of Political Science and International Relations critically.	-	-	-	-	-
6	To be able to transfer ideas and proposals on issues in the areas of Political Science and International Relations to other people and institutions verbally and in writing.	-	-	-	-	-
7	To be able to identify the historical continuity and changes observed in the relations between the actors and institutions of national and international politics.	-	-	-	-	-
8	To be able to examine concepts, theories, and developments with scientific methods in the areas of Political Science and International Relations.	-	-	-	-	-
9	To be able to take responsibility as an individual and as a team member.	-	-	-	-	-
10	To be able to act in accordance with the scientific and ethical values in studies related to Political Science and International Relations.	-	-	-	-	-
11	To be able to collect data in the areas of Political Science and International Relations and communicate with colleagues in a foreign language ("European Language Portfolio Global Scale", Level B1).	-	-	-	-	-
12	To be able to speak a second foreign at a medium level of fluency efficiently.	-	-	-	-	-
13	To be able to relate the knowledge accumulated throughout human history to their field of experience.	-	-	-	-	-