HIST 295 - Seminar: Topics in History

FDR: HU
Credits: 3-4

A seminar offered from time to time depending on student interest and staff availability, in a selected topic or problem in history. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different.

Winter 2019, HIST 295A-01: Seminar: Darwin and His Critics (3). Not open to students with credit for HIST 395: Darwin and His Critics. One of the most influential scientific theories is the theory of organic evolution. Its history has largely been written by Darwin and his followers. This course looks at the “Darwin industry” and at a revisionist history that incorporates the non-Darwinian approach to the origin of life and species. Giving close attention to the scientific facts and the different theories, we also raise such questions as “Where were these theories situated?” and “What socio-political purposes and religious connotations did they have?” The course ends with bringing to bear the historical perspective on today’s ongoing controversies about evolution theory. (HU) Rupke.

Fall 2019, HIST 295A-01: Seminar: Science and Religion (3). The encounter of science and Christian belief in the Western tradition. This encounter is not interpreted as warfare but in terms of several parallel discourses, only one of which is to be understood as conflict. A number of thematic topics are to pass the revue, ranging from early-modern physico-theology to current controversies over Darwinian evolution vs. Intelligent Design. (HU) Rupke.