PH230 Half Unit
Einstein for Everyone: From time travel to the edge of the universe
This information is for the 2015/16 session.
Teacher responsible
Dr Bryan Roberts
Availability
This course is available on the BSc in Philosophy and Economics, BSc in Philosophy, Logic and Scientific Method and BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.
Pre-requisites
There are no prerequisites for this course; it is accessible to students of all backgrounds.
Course content
Does the universe have an edge? Is time travel possible? What is a black hole, and should we be worried about experiments at the LHC creating them? The modern theory of spacetime introduced by Einstein provides a precise framework in which to ask these questions. This course makes their analysis accessible to everyone.
Students will have the opportunity to engage with Einstein's theories of relativity, to use them to analyse philosophical problems, and to examine their philosophical and practical implications. The topics of the course will include: 1) Relativity: Slowing clocks, shrinking rods, and the relativity of simultaneity; 2) Spacetime: Thinking in 4-dimensions, faster-than-light travel, and other philosophical issues; 3) Non-Euclidean thinking: Beyond the geometry of Euclid, measuring curvature, gravity as curved spacetime; 4) Cosmology: Our place in the universe, big bang cosmology, time travel; 5) Limits of space and time: Geometry, black holes, singularities.
Students will learn to apply these conceptual tools to the analysis of space, time and gravity, as well as to formulate and argue for their own perspectives on the philosophical implications of relativity theory. One is often faced with unsubstantiated declarations about the implications of Einstein's theories, by both scientists and non-scientists. This course will equip non-scientists with the conceptual tools needed to critically analyse these claims for themselves.
Einstein for Everyone requires absolutely no background in physics or maths. Students are only required to learn two equations, which really cannot be omitted: E=mc2, and Einstein's equation!
Teaching
10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the MT.
Formative coursework
Weekly problem sets and short discussion questions submitted through Moodle and for review in classes.
Indicative reading
- Norton, John D. (2015) Einstein for Everyone.
- Hugget, Nick. (2010) Everywhere and Everywhen: Adventures in Physics and Philosophy.
- Einstein, Albert (1920) Relativity: The special and general theory.
- Euclid (1908) The Thirteen Books of Euclid's Elements, Vol I.
- Poincaré, Henri (1905) Science and Hypothesis.
Weekly essential readings will be provided on Moodle, selected individually from various book chapters and journal articles.
Assessment
Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the LT week 0.
Key facts
Department: Philosophy
Total students 2014/15: Unavailable
Average class size 2014/15: Unavailable
Capped 2014/15: No
Value: Half Unit
PDAM skills
- Self-management
- Problem solving
- Application of information skills
- Communication
- Application of numeracy skills
- Specialist skills