Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
The Great Courses (2004), 18 hours, 36 lectures, 230 pages
Description
Presents 36 lectures discussing the evolving relationship of science with society during the 20th century.
User reviews
LibraryThing member datrappert
One of the best Teaching Company courses I have taken. Although there have been some new developments since this was produced in 2004, it remains a great overview for the non-scientist of the amazing developments in 20th Century Science. Starting with Einstein and spending a great deal of time on
I found the hard science lectures to be more interesting than the lectures on sociology, history, political science, and economics. Professor Goldman does do a great job in the Linguistics lecture, however, of making it clear why Noam Chomsky is such a controversial pioneer in that field.
I cannot recommend this course highly enough!
Show More
Quantum Theory (well spent time!), Goldman enthusiastically and engagingly tells the story of physics, space science (the expanding universe), mathematics, geology (plate tectonics), evolution and genetics, and the social sciences as well. As a liberal arts major, I was incredibly engaged by his explanations of highly scientific concepts in easy-to-understand ways. it is also a great introduction to many of the scientists who have shaped our current conception of reality. The course is light on visuals, but these pictures and a few illustrations do add to the experience. And Professor Goldman is great to watch--he doesn't have the annoying habits of some Teaching Company Lecturers such as appearing to be reading everything from the lectern. He does talk fast and occasionally stumbles over a word or two--then corrects himself. His intelligence shines through in every lecture and I would love to be able to just sit and have a conversation with him about the developments since the course was recorded.I found the hard science lectures to be more interesting than the lectures on sociology, history, political science, and economics. Professor Goldman does do a great job in the Linguistics lecture, however, of making it clear why Noam Chomsky is such a controversial pioneer in that field.
I cannot recommend this course highly enough!
Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
230 p.; 9.1 inches
ISBN
1565858913 / 9781565858916
Local notes
1 The Evolution of 20th-Century Science / 2 Redefining Reality / 3 Quantum Theory Makes Its Appearance / 4 The Heroic "Old" Age of Quantum Theory / 5 A Newer Theory—QED / 6 QED Meets Fission and Fusion / 7 Learning by Smashing / 8 What Good is QED? / 9 The Newest Theory—Quantum Chromodynamics / 10 Unifying Nature / 11 Chemists Become Designers / 12 Mathematics and Truth / 13 Mathematics and Reality / 14 The Universe Expands / 15 What is the Universe? / 16 How Do We Know What's Out There? / 17 From Equilibrium to Dynamism / 18 Subterranean Fury / 19 Solar System Citizen / 20 Science Organized, Adopted, Co-opted / 21 Techno-Science and Globalization / 22 The Evolution of Evolution / 23 Human Evolution / 24 Genetics—From Mendel to Molecules / 25 Molecular Biology / 26 Molecular Medicine / 27 Culture—Anthropology and Archaeology / 28 Culture—History / 29 Culture—Linguistics / 30 Society—Sociology / 31 Society—Political Science / 32 Society—Economics / 33 Mind—Classical and Behavioral Psychology / 34 Mind—Cybernetics, AI, Connectionism / 35 Looking Back / 36 Looking Around and Looking Ahead
Similar in this library
The Birth of the Modern Mind: The Intellectual History of the 17th and 18th Centuries by Alan Charles Kors
Einstein's Relativity and the Quantum Revolution: Modern Physics for Non-Scientists, 2nd Edition by Richard Wolfson