History and Philosophy of the Earth and Climate Sciences

Course goals

Students will…

• reflect on the particular characteristics of the Earth, climate, and environmental sciences;
• grow familiar with recent scholarly trends in the study of these sciences;
• apply the tools of the history and philosophy of science to debates about climate and environment in the public sphere;
• further develop academic skills like reading, writing, discussing, listening and presenting.

Content

The climate crisis has forced “the environment” into every aspect of our existence. Knowledge of the climate and environment is present in our daily weather forecasts and our economic models; in our politics and our energy systems. Yet how we define things like “the climate” or “the environment,” and how we measure them has changed dramatically over the last centuries. Our way of knowing the Earth as a planetary system draws on a long and tangled history of speculation and observation, instrument making and model building, scientific politics and institutionalization, field work and lab work, empire and extraction. It is a history that ranges from deep mines up into outer space. Understanding that history allows us to better understand some of the challenges faced by today’s climate, environmental, and Earth scientists.

The aim of this course is to bring together students from the sciences and the humanities to delve into the history and philosophy of the sciences dealing with the “Earth system.” Collectively, we will explore new historical and philosophical perspectives; read about some of the most pressing issues in the field; and discuss how reflecting on the practice of science will help us make sense of our current predicament. To understand where we come from is to have a better sense of where we are going