Spring Semester 2005 – Discoverying Earth History
(Geol 303, Anthro 309)
Lecture Schedule
The Seashell on the Mountaintop:
A Story of Science, Sainthood, and the Humble Genius
Who Discovered a New History of the Earth
Section 01, Call # 86851, 1 credit
January 25, 2005 – March 4, 2005
T, Th 4:00 – 5:15 p.m.
Meetings at 204 Babcock Hall
Text: Alan Cutler, 2004, The Seashell on the Mountaintop: A Story of Science, Sainthood, and the Humble Genius Who Discovered a New History of the Earth: New York, A Plume Book, Penguin Group
SYLLABUS
Schedule is preliminary and subject to change with notice.
Although every attempt will be made to adhere to the schedule, there may be times when the syllabus will be modified without prior warning. Any modifications that have to be made will be done via an in-class announcement.
Students are asked to come to class and bring their syllabi with them every day so that they may be apprised of any modifications and can record such modifications on their syllabi.
|
Date
|
Lc#/Day
|
Topic/Reading
|
| Jan. 25 |
1-Tu |
Overview of course and syllabus plan.
At the time of Steno. Reading in Cutler, chs. 1–3. |
| 1-27 | 2-Th | The culture and intellectual life of Florence (Italy).
Reading in Cutler, ch. 4. |
| Feb. 01 | 3-Tu |
What did Steno know? The Greeks as paleontologists. Reading in Cutler, chs. 5–6. First Paper Due |
| 2-03 | 4-Th |
“On Fossil Objects.” Digging things up, by Conrad Gesner. Reading in Cutler, ch. 7. |
| 2-08 | 5-Tu |
What’s it all about Alfie? Logic, deductive thinking, actualism, uniformity. Reading in Cutler, chs. 8–9. Second Paper Due |
| 2-10 | 6-Th |
Inherent layering: What can you deduce? Reading in Cutler, chs. 10–11. |
| 2-15 | 7-Tu | Steno’s contemporaries: How much conflict, how much resolution?
Reading in Cutler, chs. 12–13. Third Paper Due |
| 2-17 | 8-Th | Deep time considered. (What about Da Vinci?)
Reading in Cutler, chs. 14–15. |
| Mar. 01 | 9-Tu | Ideologies in conflict.
Reading in Cutler, chs. 15–16. Fourth Paper Due |
| 3-03 | 10-Th | Ideologies in harmony? |
| 3-09 | 11-Tu | Fifth Paper Due
At 4:00 p.m., Room 102 Babcock Hall. |
| Other day's of note in first part of term | ||
| Jan. 17 | Martin Luther King Day observance | |
| Feb. 21 |
President's Day observance |
|
| Mar. 14 | Mar.18 |
Spring Break |
| Mar. 25 | Mar. 28 | Easter Holidary observance |