NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

COURSE CODE: GST 105:

COURSE TITLE: HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

GST 105: HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
COURSE DEVELOPMENT

Course Developer

Dr Mrs F. I Akaneme
University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Unit Writer

Dr Mrs F. I. Akaneme
University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Course Coordinators
Professor I. A. Olaofe
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Dr Mrs. F. I. Akaneme
University of Nigeria, Nsukka

NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

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National Open University of Nigeria
Headquarters
National Open University of Nigeria
14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way
Victoria Island
Lagos

Branch office
245 Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun Street
Central Business District
Opposite Arewa Suites
Abuja

e- mail: [email protected]
URL: www.nou.edu.ng

© National Open University of Nigeria 2004

First published 2004

ISBN 978-058-000-X
Published by Longman Nigeria Plc
For
National Open University of Nigeria

Published by Longman Nigeria Plc for National Open University of Nigeria

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Contents Guide
Introduction
What you will learn in this course
Course aims
Course objectives
Course requirements
Course materials
Study units
Recommended textbooks
Assignment file
Assessment
Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
Final examination and grading
Course overview
Strategies for studying the course
Tutors and tutorials
Summary

Introduction
GST 105 ‘History and Philosophy of Science’ is a one semester, two-unit, foundation
(100) level course. Students of Science and non-science programmes are expected to take
this course. It is a prerequisite to your obtaining your B.A. or B.Sc. degree. The course
will consist of eighteen units. The material has been developed to suit Nigerian students
by using more practical examples from the local environment. Thereare no compulsory
prerequisites for the course.
This course guide tells you briefly what the course is about, what course materials you
will be using and how you are to use them. It provides some general guidelines for the
amount of time you might be spending in order to successfully complete each unit of the
course. It also gives you some guidance on your tutor-marked assignments, details of
which are to be found in a separate ‘Assignment File’. The course involves regular
tutorials and you are advised to attend the sessions. Dates and locations of tutorials are
included in the ‘Assignment File’.

What you will learn in this course

The general aim of GST 105 ‘History and Philosophy of Science’ is to:
1. Stimulate your interest in science by encouraging you to think critically.
2. Help you attain a personal philosophy of life – that is to develop some set of
principles that will guide your actions in relation to other people.
While going through this course, you will learn about how science and its
branches originated, the contributions of ancient Africans to science, and how the use of
various
scientific knowledge has helped to improve or mar our lives.
The study of the history of science and its philosophy is very important. This is
because the knowledge of today incorporates the discoveries of the past and the method

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through which those discoveries were made. Thus if you are to appreciate
programme and the level of advance it has attained, you must know something of how
your
and where it originated and how it has evolved to its present state. Towards the end of
this course, you will be exposed to the contributions of some great Nigerian scientists.
This will motivate you to make your own contributions to society in whatever programme
you may be running.

Course Aims
The general aim of the course discussed in the last section will be achieved by trying to:

1. Establish the interrelationship between all disciplines.

2. Show the extent of ancient African contributions to modern technology.
3. Create an awareness of the services of science to man and the effects of science
on human society.
4. Introduce you to the two schools of thought on the origin of man.
5. Explain to you the nature of man, components of the universe in which he lives, and
how he obtains energy for his activities.
6. Awaken in you the sense of being a Nigerian in such a way as to inspire and
motivate you to think scientifically.

Course Objectives
In order to achieve the aims listed above, the course sets overall objectives. Each unit also
has specific objectives which are always outlined at the beginning of that unit. You
should read them before you start working through the unit. It is necessary to refer to
them during your study of the unit to check on your progress. Also, after completing a
unit, you should glance through the unit objectives. This will enable you to be sure that
you have done what was required of you by the unit.
Listed below are the wider objectives of the course as a whole. By meeting these
objectives, you will have achieved the aims of the course as a whole. On successful
completion of the course, you should be able to:

1. Analyse accurately the nature of science.

2. Describe sequentially the processes of scientific research.
3. Recognise and relate the laws of nature to everyday life.
4. Define and discuss some of the known scientific theories.
5. Discuss vividly the origin of science in ancient times.
6. Evaluate the state of science in the Middle Ages of Europe.
7. Specify the events that gave impetus to the rise of modern science.
8. Identify the advances obtained in science in the twentieth century.
9. Outline and write an overview of the lost sciences of Africa in areas outside
of Egypt.
10. Identify the relationship between science and technology and recognise and
show their various uses.
11. Discuss intelligently the gains and negative effects of technological
development on society.

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12. Analyse the fundamental principles and methods of science.
13. Discuss the various viewpoints on the origin of man.
14. Explain the nature of man.
15. Identify the various components of the universe in which man lives,
especially those parts that are connected with human life, survival and
interest.
16. Outline and evaluate the natural resources for man.
17. Recognize the great scientists of Nigerian origin and appreciate their
contributions to societal welfare.

Course Requirements
To complete this course you are required to read the study units, read suggested books
and other materials that will help you achieve the objectives. Each unit contains self
assessment exercises, and at intervals in the course you are required to
assignments for assessment purposes. There will be a final examination at the end of the
submit
course. The course should take you a total of about 34 weeks to complete. Listed below
are the major components of the course.

Course Materials
Major components of the course are:
1. Course guide
2. 4 modules of content of 5 units each
3. Recommended textbooks
4. Assignment file

Study Units
There are eighteen study units in this course. Each unit should take you 2–3 hours to work
through. The eighteen units are divided into four modules. Three modules contain 5 units
each while the last module contains 3 units in addition to two weeks of revision. This is
arranged as follows:

Module 1
Unit 1 The nature of science
Unit 2 The scientific method
Unit 3 Basic scientific theories
Unit 4 Laws of nature
Unit 5 Histor y of Western science — 1 (Origin of Western science in ancient times)

Module 2
Unit 1 Histor y of science — 2 (Science in the Middle Ages of Europe)
Unit 2 Histor y of science — 3 (Rise of modern science)
Unit 3 Histor y of science — 4 (The twentieth century scientific revolution)
Unit 4 The lost sciences of Africa — 1: An overview
Unit 5 The lost sciences of Africa — 2: An overview

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Module 3
Unit 1 Science, technology and inventions
Unit 2 Social implications of technological advancement
Unit 3 The nature and scope of philosophy of science
Unit 4 Man and his origin
Unit 5 The nature of man

Module 4
Unit 1 Man and his cosmic environment
Unit 2 Man and his natural resources
Unit 3 Great scientists of Nigerian origin
Unit 4 Revision
Unit 5 Revision

Each unit includes a table of contents, introduction, specific objectives, recommended

textbooks and summaries of key issues and ideas. At intervals in each unit, you will be
provided with a number of exercises or self-assessment questions. These are to help you
test yourself on the material you have just covered or to apply it in some way. The value
of these self-tests is to help you gauge your progress and to reinforce your understanding
of the material. At least one tutor-marked assignment will be provided at the end of each
unit. The exercises and the tutor- marked assignments will help you in achieving the stated
learning objectives of the individual units and of the course.

Recommended Textbooks
Ezekwesili, N. O., P. O. Ubachukwu and C. R. Nwagbo (2001) (eds), Introduction
toNatural Sciences — 2, Newcrest Publishers, Onitsha.

Nwala, T. U (1997) (ed.), History and philosophy of Science, Niger Books & Publishing
Co. Ltd, Nsukka.

Onyewuenyi, I. C. (1993), The African Origin of Greek Philosophy – An Exercise in

Afrocentrism, University of Nigeria Press, Nsukka.

Assignment file
All the details of the assignments you must submit to your tutor for marking will be found
in this file. You must get a passing grade in these assignments in order to pass this course.
In the assignment file itself and in the section on assessment within this Course Guide,
additional information will be found.

There are 9 assignments in this course. They will cover:

1. The nature of science, the scientific method and basic scientific theories (Module
1, Units 1 and 2).
2. Basic scientific theories and the laws of nature (Module 1,Units 3 & 4)
3. History of science 1 and 2 (Module1, Unit 5 & Module 2, Unit 1)
4. History of science 3 and 4 (Module 2, Units 2 & 3)

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5. The lost sciences of Africa 1 and 2 (Module 2, Units 4 & 5)
6. Science, technology and inventions: social implications of technological
development (Module 3, Units 1 & 2)
7. The nature and scope of the philosophy of science, and man and his origin
(Module 3, Units 3 & 4)
8. The nature of man, and man and his cosmic environment (Module 3,Unit 5,
Module 4, Unit 1 respectively)
9. Man and his natural resources, and great scientists of Nigerian origin
(Module 4, Units 2 & 3)

The dates for the completion and submission of tutor-marked assignments and
attending tutorials will be found in this file. Do not forget to submit all your assignments
for
by the due dates.

Assessment
The course will be assessed in two aspects. These are:
1. Tutor-marked assignments
2. Written examination
For you to do the assignments very well, it is expected of you to apply information,
knowledge and techniques obtained from the course. You must endeavour to submit the
assignments to your tutor for marking before the deadlines given in the Assignment file.
The assignments will count for 50% of your total course mark. The final
examination, which you will sit for at the end of the course, will also count for 50% of
written
your total course work. The examination will be of three hours duration.

Tutor Marked Assignments

This course consists of 9 tutor-marked assignments. The four assignments with the
highest marks will be counted for you. In other words, you need not submit all the
assignments, but you are encouraged to do so. Each assignment counts 12.5% towards
your total course mark.

In the Assignment file, you will find all the assignment questions for all the units. To
demonstrate your understanding of the course, do not depend only on
obtained from the units to answer the questions. Go to the library, read and research very
information
well to obtain more information on the course. After completing each assignment, send it
to your tutor. Try your best to get each assignment across to your tutor on or before the
due dates given in the Assignment file. However, if it becomes impossible for you to
submit any of the assignments on time, please let your tutor know before the due date.
After due consideration, you might be given an extension.

Final Examination and Grading

To prepare for this examination, revise all the areas covered in the course. Revision of all
the exercises and the tutor-marked assignments before the examination will also be of
help to you. The revision should start after you have finished studying the last unit. This
final examination will be of three hours’ duration. It has a value of 50% of the total
course grade.

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Course Overview
The units, the number of weeks it would take you to complete them, and the assignments
that follow them are outlined in the table below:

Table 1: Course organizer

Unit Title of work Duration Assessment (end of unit)
(weeks)
Course Guide 1
1 The nature of science 1
2 The scientific method 2 Assignment 1
3 Basic scientific theories 2
4 Laws of nature 1 Assignment 2
5 History of science – (Origin of 1
science in ancient times) 2
6 History of science – 2 Assignment 3
(science in the Middle Ages of
Europe) 2
7 History of science – 3
(R ise of modern science) 2
8 History of science – 4 Assignment 4
The twentieth century scientific
revolution) 2
9 The lost sciences of Africa –1: An 2
overview
10 The lost sciences of Africa – 2: An Assignment 5
overview 2
11 Science, technology and inventions 2
12 Social implications of Assignment 6
technological development 2
13 The nature and scope of the 2
philosophy of science
14 Man and his origin 2 Assignment 7
15 The nature of man 2
16 Man and his cosmic environment 1 Assignment 8
17 Man and his natural resources 3
18 Great scientists of Nigerian origin 1 Assignment 9
Total 42

Strategies for Studying Course

In distance learning, the study units replace the university lecturer. Thus one of the
advantages of distance learning is that you can read the course materials at your own
pace, at any time and anywhere. Exercises to test your understanding of the materials are

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provided in each unit. There is a common format for all the units. The first item is the
introduction to what the unit will be introducing you to. The introduction also shows you
how a particular unit is related with other units and to the course as a whole. After the
introduction, you will see the objectives. The objectives indicate what you are
expected to achieve after studying the unit. So you should keep it handy so as
constantly check or monitor yourself in terms of achieving those objectives. The main
to
body of the unit guides you through the required readings from other sources. Exercises,
as was mentioned before, are provided at intervals throughout the reading materials.
Answers to those exercises are provided at the end of each unit. Don’t try to skip any of
the exercises. Try to do them as you meet them while reading. This will help to do your
tutor-marked assignments and also to prepare you for examinations. The following is a
practical strategy for studying the reading materials. If you encounter any problem, don’t
worry. Contact your tutor and he/she will happily help you out.

1. Read this Course Guide thoroughly

2. Provide a timetable for yourself, and take note of the time you are required to
spend on each unit and always stick to the timetable.

Tutors and Tutorials

There are 20 hours of tutorials (ten 2 hours) provided to support this course. The dates,
times and locations of these tutorials will be made available to you, together with the
name and address of your tutor.
The assignments will be marked by your tutor. Take note of the comments he might make
and remember to send in your assignments before the deadline. In case you will not meet
the deadline, don’t forget to notify your tutor. The tutor will return your assignments to
you after he must have marked them. Try your best not to skip any of the tutorials. This is
because that’s the only chance you have of meeting your tutor and your fellow students.
And problems encountered while reading the course materials will be more easily solved
by your tutor.

Summary
GST 105 intends to introduce you to the History and Philosophy of Science. Upon
completing this course, you will have been introduced to general education, which will
help you have a coherent view of the world. You will know that all knowledge is
interrelated. You will be able to answer these kinds of questions:

The questions are inexhaustible. There are many more you can answer. We wish you
luck and success with the course and hope that you will find it both
interesting.
helpful and In the longer term, we hope you will enjoy your acquaintance with NOUN,
and we wish you every success in your future.