HUHI 7368: Imagination and the Cosmos:
Nature, Humanity and Science to the Age of Newton



In this course we will trace the development and impact of the industrial revolution and technology, astronomy and astrophysics, geology and Darwinism through the novels, poetry and essays of nineteenth-century British writers. Our subjects will include: cosmology, experimental physics, electrical investigations, experimental physiology, "vitalism," natural history, geology, Darwinian evolution, moral and social Darwinism, industrial and technological developments and their social effects, entropy, the aesthetic and decadent movements. We will investigate the interactions of science and social issues, science and aesthetics, science and culture. Additionally, we will examine the nature of scientific writings, critiques against science and technology, scientific "personalities," differences and similarities between science and literature, the status of women in science, as well as popular conceptions and misconceptions about science and scientists.

The course will be organized into three central units: "Human Technology and the Industrial Revolution," "Astronomy and Astrophysics: Island Universes to Entropy," "Geology and Darwinian Natural History." NO TECHNICAL BACKGROUND IS REQUIRED and most historical background to the development of the sciences will be provided in class. Of course, individual students may find it enriching to read materials outside of class that give fuller treatment of a particular scientific development relevant to their interests and paper topics.

TEXTS: PAPER, PRESENTATION, ATTENDANCE and PARTICIPATION:

CLASS CALENDAR

This course has been organized in three central units: "Human Technology and the Industrial Revolution," "Astronomy and Astrophysics," "Geology and Darwinian Natural History."

wk 1: R. Jan.12: UNIT ONE: "Human Technology and the Industrial Revolution"
PART 1--Intro. to Course: Structure, Expectations, Definitions. Literature and Science? Why Ask Why?
PART 2--Lecture: Background to 19th-C. Technology and the Industrial Revolution. Optional reading: Introduction to Victorian Reader (pp. xi-xlii).

wk 2: R. Jan.19: THE NATURE OF WORK IN THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
PART 1--Discuss the essays and addresses of Disraeli and Carlyle and addresses concerning Labor Laws, as in Victorian Reader. D/C: The Two Nations pp. 22-23; Unworking Aristocracy pp.23-29; The New Generation pp.29-37; The Condition of England pp.48-53; The Rural Town of Marney pp.69-73; Millbank pp.151-159; Captains of Industry pp.159-164; Working Aristocracy pp.238-244. Labor: pp.245-257.
PART 2--Discuss Eliot, Engels as in Victorian Reader. Eliot: Old England...pp. 6-13; A Liberal Landlord pp. 54-60; A Village Workhouse pp. 77-84; Dodson... pp. 128-139; Engels: Slums.. and Child Labor, pp. 60-69.

wk 3: R. Jan 26: WORKING CLASS, MIDDLE CLASS AND OTHERS
PART 1--Discuss Dickens, Kingsley as in Victorian Reader. Dickens: The Dedlocks pp. 37-42; A London Workhouse pp. 84-91; Mrs. Pardiggle...pp. 111-127; Veneerings and Podsnappery pp. 140-150; Mr. Bounderby pp. 176-179; A Visit to Newgate pp. 263-270; Kingsley: The Men who... pp. 73-77; Cheap Clothes.. pp. 115-127.
PART 2--Lecture: Background in early 19th-c. experimental physics and physiology. Read: Huxley as in Victorian Reader: Protoplasm pp. 530-537.

wk 4: R. Feb. 2: EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY IN THE NOVEL
PARTS 1 and 2--Discuss Frankenstein to end.

wk 5: R. Feb. 9: INDUSTRIALIZATION AND "THE CONDITIONS OF LIFE"
PART 1--Discuss Ruskin, 1851, Smiles, Butler as in Victorian Reader, Ruskin: Traffic pp. 179-189; Characteristics of Gothic... , Love of Clouds, and Pathetic Fallacy pp. 586-607; 1851 Exhibition: pp. 538-544; Smiles and Butler on Space and Machines pp. 545-560.
PART 2--Discuss poems as in xerox packet: Blake "Chimney Sweep" (I and II) and from Jerusalem; Wordsworth: "The World is Too Much With Us," and "Steamboats..."; Tennyson: "Locksley Hall"; Hardy: "Darkling Thrush". Also poems in Victorian Verse: Arnold: "Dover Beach" p. 166; D.G. Rossetti: "A Trip to Paris and Belgium" pp. 189-193; Hardy: "The Ruined Maid" and "Convergence of the Twain" pp. 300-302; Davidson: "Crystal Palace" pp. 343-352.

wk 6: R. Feb. 16: UNIT TWO: Island Universes to Entropy: 19th C. Astronomy and Astrophysics

PART 1--Lecture: Background to 19th C. Astronomy and Astrophysics (the Herschels, new planets, early astrophysics)
PART 2--Discuss prose popularization of astronomy (packet)

wk 7: R. Feb. 23:
PARTS 1 and 2--Discuss Two on a Tower, Ch.1-29.

wk 8: R. Mar. 2:
PART 1--Discuss Two on a Tower, Ch.30-end.
PART 2--Discuss poems in xerox packet: Tennyson: "Move Eastward Happy Earth," "The Higher Pantheism," "Vastness"; Thomson: "Hound of Heaven." In Victorian Verse: Swinburne: "Higher Pantheism in a Nutshell" pp. 293-4.

wk 9: R. Mar. 9:
PARTS 1 and 2--Discuss Tennyson's In Memoriam, selections TBA (xerox packet)

wk 10: R. Mar. 16: ** SPRING BREAK--NO CLASS **

wk 11: R. Mar. 23:
PARTS 1 and 2--BEGIN "WORKS IN PROGRESS" PRESENTATIONS

wk 12: R. Mar. 30:
PART 1--FINISH PRESENTATIONS
PART 2--BEGIN UNIT 3: Geology and Darwinian Natural History Lecture: Background to Natural History, Read: Lyell, Chambers, Spencer (Victorian Reader, pp. 497-519)

wk 13 R. Apr. 6:
PART 1--Discuss Darwin reader: Intro, selections from Pt 1 and Pt 2: pp. xv -xvi; 3-10; 10-15; 19-27; 27-31.
PART 2--Discuss Darwin reader: from Pt 2: 35-87.

wk 14: R. Apr. 13:
PART 1--Discuss Darwin reader: from Pt 2:132-176, 196-208, pp. 220-226, 231-243, 513-19.
PART 2--Discuss: Arnold and Huxley (Victorian Reader, pp.483-496)

wk 15: R. Apr. 20: RESEARCH PAPER DUE
PARTS 1 and 2--Discuss: 19th-C. Women in Science (packet).

wk 16: R. Apr. 27:
PART 1--Discuss: Entropy and Escape: The PreRaphaelite, Aesthetic and Decadent Movements. Discuss: from Victorian Reader: Masson on Pre-Raphaelites, pp. 574-586; Arnold, "Function of Criticism" pp. 613-628; Pater on Mona Lisa and Art, pp. 626-632; Wilde on "Critic as Artist" pp. 647-end.
PART 2--Discuss: Swinburne: "Triumph of Time," "Genesis," "Anactoria" (in packet). From Victorian Verse: Morris, "Haystack in the Floods" pp. 246-250; D.G. Rossetti "The Orchard-pit" p. 193; Dowson, "Non Sum Qualis..." p. 402-403.

wk 17: R. May 4: FINALS WEEK ** NO CLASS

Last updated: May 28, 1997
Course Descriptions
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