Science, Facts, and Denialism
Kurt Zemlicka
English
This course looks to explore the myriad of ways in which “science,” in a variety of forms, is discussed and presented to scientific communities, governmental organizations, and the public. Specifically, we will focus on five main components related to the above topic:
The shifting conceptions of what constitutes a scientific argument throughout the past three centuries, and, more broadly, how societies have developed their understanding of science and its relationship to public life. The increasing skepticism of the role of science in society, and how science has become increasingly politicized in contemporary American political discourse.
The role of governmental funding in science in the United States after World War II to today, and debates over what “kinds” of science ought to be funded with taxpayer dollars. How can multiple modes of address (podcasts, video, speech, writing) be effectively marshalled to explain the impact and utility of scientific research to an audience of non-experts.
How to foster public input and deliberation over the shape and trajectory of controversial scientific and technological advancements in the areas of biomedicine and the environment.
Uniting these threads of inquiry is one overarching question: How can we trace the development of our contemporary understanding of the role of science in a democracy, and what are the challenges we face in fostering public engagement with the scientific progress in the United States?
Goals of the course include:
- Understanding the relationship between the study of rhetoric, communication and science
- Tracing our shifting conceptions of what constitutes “science” over the past three centuries
- Presenting scientific research (in multiple modes) in ways that are easily communicable to non-expert audiences in the academy and public
- Analyzing scientific argument
- Understanding the relationship between democracy and science
Catalog Information: HON-H 240 SCIENCE AND SOCIETY