These are some of the deep questions that historians and philosophers of science and technology examine. Courses in the philosophy of science engage with the structure of science, its methods, and its special claims to the production of knowledge. Courses in the philosophy of technology examine the ethical implications and philosophical underpinnings of new technologies and consider how new technologies encourage us to rethink our conceptions of human nature, social justice, and the political order. Courses in the history of science and technology situate scientific and technological advances in their cultural, socio-economic, and political contexts, in the process revealing their relevance to many important matters such as race, gender, equality, diversity, nation-building, empire, colonialism, international relations, conflict, war, peace, health, and sustainability. Students taking HPS courses deepen their understanding of major ideas in science, they learn to think critically about the past and present role of science in human societies, and they improve their skills in oral presentation and debate, research, and writing.
Students pursuing History and Philosophy of Science and Technology programs will be ideally suited to any professional or academic context that requires an understanding of science, technology, science and technology in society, and the relation between the sciences, technological developments, and the humanities.