Uses of the Past – The Scientist as Storyteller

CLLC-L 220 — Fall 2023 — Themester

Location
EO C110
Days and Times
MW 1:15 PM–2:30 PM
Course Description

Scientists construct stories about nature, from the birth of the universe to mechanisms of cell interaction, and sketch what they themselves do, to promote their latest results or to overview domain achievements. Stories not only communicate accumulated knowledge but also structure the relation between evidence and theory and empower future scientific discoveries. The class provides an overview of the different uses of narratives in science, analyzes their contributions and caveats, and concludes with how past stories inform about the future.

Instructor: Siyu Yao (History and Philosophy of Science and Medicine)