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This archived information is dated to the 2011-12 academic year only and may no longer be current.

For currently applicable policies and information, see the current Stanford Bulletin.

History and Philosophy of Science and Technology

In this section:

Overseas Studies Courses in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology

Up one level:

School of Humanities and Sciences

Co-chairs: Michael Friedman (Philosophy), Jessica Riskin (History)

Committee-in-Charge: Paula Findlen (History), Michael Friedman (Philosophy), Helen Longino (Philosophy), Reviel Netz (Classics), Robert Proctor (History)

Program Committee: Paula Findlen (History), Michael Friedman (Philosophy), Helen Longino (Philosophy), Tom Mullaney (History), Reviel Netz (Classics), Robert Proctor (History), Jessica Riskin (History), Londa Schiebinger (History)

Professors: Keith Baker (History), Paula Findlen (History), Michael Friedman (Philosophy), David Holloway (History, Institute for International Studies, Political Science), Helen Longino (Philosophy), Reviel Netz (Classics), Robert Proctor (History), Londa Schiebinger (History), Richard White (History), Caroline Winterer (History)

Associate Professors: Jessica Riskin (History), Fred Turner (Communication), Sarah Jain (Anthropology), Priya Satia (History)

Assistant Professor: Thomas Mullaney (History)

Professor (Research): Rega Wood (Philosophy, emerita)

Lecturers: Tom Ryckman (Philosophy), Margo Horn, John McCaskey

Other Affiliation: Henry Lowood (Stanford University Libraries), Larry Lagerstrom (UAR)

Visiting Scholar: Adrienne Mayor (Classics)

Mail Code: 94305-2024

Email: rrogers@stanford.edu

Web Site: http://HPST.stanford.edu

Courses offered by the Program in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology are listed under the subject code HPS on the Stanford Bulletin's ExploreCourses web site.

The Program in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (HPST) teaches students to examine the sciences, medicine and technology from myriad perspectives, conceptual, historical and social. The community of scholars includes core faculty and students in History and Philosophy and affiliated members in Classics, Anthropology, English, Political Science, Communication, and other disciplines. Together, they draw upon the multiple methods of their disciplines to study the development, functioning, applications, and social and cultural engagements of the sciences.

Stanford's Program in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology is a collaborative enterprise of the departments of History and Philosophy. Each department has its own undergraduate and graduate degree programs in this area, but these overlap and interact through the structure of requirements, advising, team-taught courses, an active graduate student community and a shared colloquium series.

The program's courses span from antiquity to the late 20th century, with emphasis on:

UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES

The Department of History offers an interdisciplinary track in History, Science, and Medicine. The Department of Philosophy offers a degree field in History and Philosophy of Science.

GRADUATE DEGREES

Graduate students in the Program in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology can pursue a Ph.D. either in History, through its Ph.D. field in History of Science, Medicine, and Technology, or in Philosophy, through its Ph.D. field in Philosophy of Science. Students completing the requirements of the HPST program graduate with a diploma stating their concentration in HPST. For more information, see the program's web site at http://HPST.stanford.edu/grad.html.

Courses

The following courses may be used to fulfill course requirements.

INTRODUCTORY

SCIENCE IN HISTORY

This sequence is designed to introduce students to the history of Science from antiquity to the 20th century. Students are advised to take most or all of this sequence as a core foundation.

MEDICINE IN HISTORY

This sequence is designed to introduce students to the history of medicine from antiquity to the 20th century. Students are advised to take most or all of this sequence as a core foundation.

PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVES ON SCIENCE, MEDICINE, AND TECHNOLOGY

This sequence is designed to introduce students to the philosophy of science. Students are advised to take HPS 60 above as a starting point, and combine a number of the electives listed below in conjunction with courses in the other concentrations that address their specific interests.

ADVANCED

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON SCIENCE

The following courses focus on specific episodes in or approaches to the history of science.

CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES ON SCIENCE, MEDICINE, AND TECHNOLOGY

The following courses focus on contemporary cultural and social science approaches to science, technology, and medicine.

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