CH301

Genes, Germs and Quanta: Ideas of Science in Vienna

Vienna, Spring 2009

Dr. Pamela J. Trotter

Course Description: Many of the great ideas of science were significantly influenced by scientists working in and near Vienna, Austria in the late 19^th and early 20^th century. Among these are the germ theory of disease (Semmelweiss), genetics (Mendel), the second law of thermodynamics (Boltzmann), quantum theory (Boltzmann, Schrödinger), and the philosophy of science (Popper, Wittgenstein, Gödel). From the context of the history and culture of Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic, these scientists provided a notable contribution to our emergence from ignorance and myth (Träume) to a modern scientific description of many of the realities of our world (Wirklichkeit), as well as an appreciation of the limits of scientific understanding (Träume oder Wirklichkeit?). Through discussion, lecture, readings, experiments and excursions, this course will use these ideas as a basis not only for examining the nature of science, but also its connection to culture and society.

Course Schedule:

Week 1: Introduction to the nature of scientific inquiry - What is science? How is scientific knowledge acquired?

Week 2: The germ basis of disease – Ignác Semmelweiss

Week 3 & 4: Genetics – Gregor Mendel

Weeks 5: Entropy and the motions of molecules – Ludwig Boltzmann

Weeks 6 & 7: Quantum theory – Ludwig Boltzmann, Erwin Schrödinger

Weeks 8 & 9: The Vienna Circle and philosophy of scientific inquiry - Popper, Wittgenstein, Gödel

Week 10: Science in Austria today

Excursions and Activities:

1. Excursions

a. Visit Semmelweiss Museum of Medical History – Budapest, Hungary

b. Tour of Vienna General Hospital – Vienna, Austria

c. Visit to the Mendel Museum of Genetics – Brno, Czech Republic

d. Tour the Technisches Museum Wien – Vienna, Austria

e. Tour of University of Graz laboratories – Graz, Austria

2. Activities/Experiments

a. Derivation of the value of π

b. Germs and transmission of disease activity

c. Pedigree analysis using Mendelian genetics

d. Can crushing - Kinetic theory of gases activity

e. Probability - Quantum mechanics activity

f. Technisches Museum Wien activity

Grading:

Class participation 20%

Activities/experiments/notes 20%

Journal refection on readings 20%

Exam I 20%

Exam II 20%

Course Readings (*) and Source Texts:

1. Introduction to the nature of scientific inquiry

a. Carey, Stephen S. (2004). A Beginners Guide to the Scientific Method, 3^rd Edition, Thomson-Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.. Excerpt*

b. Kuhn, Thomas S. (1970). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 2^nd Edition, University of Chicago Press: Chicago. Excerpt*

c. Atkins, Peter (2003). Galileo’s Finger: The Ten Great Ideas of Science. Oxford University Press: New York. Excerpts*

2. Ignác Semmelweiss and the germ basis of disease

*Nuland, Sherwin B. (2003). The Doctor’s Plague. WW Norton: New York.

3. Gregor Mendel, the father of genetics

a. *Edelson, Edward (1999). Mendel and the Roots of Genetics. Oxford University Press: New York.

b. Henig, Robin Marantz (2000). The Monk in the Garden. Mariner Books: Boston

c. Gonick, Larry & Mark Wheelis (1983). The Cartoon Guide to Genetics. HarperCollins: New York.

4. Ludwig Boltzmann and the motions of molecules

a. *Brown, LeMay and Bursten (2006). “Kinetic-molecular theory” and “The molecular interpretation of entropy” in Chemistry: the Central Science, Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, N.J., pp. 420-423 and 811-816.

b. *Thirring, H. (1952) Ludwig Bolzmann. Journal of Chemical Education 29:298-300.

c. Flamm, D. (1983) Ludwig Boltzmann and his influence on Science. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science 14 (4): 255-278.

5. Erwin Scrödinger, Ludwig Boltzmann and quantum mechanics

a. *What the Bleep do We Know? Director William Arntz, Lord of the Wind Films, 2004.

b. *Tegmark, Max & John Archibald Wheeler (2001). 100 years of quantum mysteries, Scientific American 284(2): 68-75.

c. Gilmore, Robert (1995). Alice in Quantum Land: an Allegory of Quantum Physics, Springer-Verlag: New York.

d. Moore, Walter (1994). A Life of Erwin Schrödinger. Cambridge University Press: New York.

6. The Vienna Circle and philosophy of scientific inquiry

a. Popper, Karl R. (1959). The Logic of Scientific Discovery. Basic Books, Inc.: New York. Excerpt*

b. *Goldstein, Rebecca (2005). Incompleteness: The Proof and Paradox of Kurt Gödel. WW Norton: New York.

c. *Edmonds, David & John Eidinow (2001). Wittgenstein’s Poker. HarperCollins: New York.