New Graduate Course MSE1022 Foundations Matter

The course explores the progression of ideas from the early musings of natural philosophers in the Classic Greek period to the emergence of present-day quantum physics, postmodernism philosophy and cognitive neuroscience.

Through the framework of major worldviews in western civilization, the course examines the pursuit of knowledge and the interplay of concepts – such as truth and relativity -between two major branches of inquiry – physics and philosophy.

Why Enroll?

The principal reason for this course is to provide an encapsulating view of the tree of knowledge, filling gaps that often exist in the individual’s awareness of scientific and philosophical branches.

The course provides opportunity to exercise critical thinking skills as one is introduced to models of knowing and of validating knowledge. Problem solving abilities will be enhanced via the introduction of wide-ranging structures of knowledge, patterns and connections.

Historical context will enable a deeper appreciation for the science of matter: that which we understand, and that which is yet to be discovered.

In time, this understanding will underpin the student’s professional and personal progress.

Overview

Foundations Matter is a panoramic view of the human journey toward an understanding of the nature of reality and the nature of the self. The course explores the progression of ideas from the early musings of natural philosophers in the Classic Greek period, and other preceding and contemporary cultures, to the emergence of present-day quantum physics and cognitive neuroscience. Among other themes, the course considers the conundrum of knowledge: from an objective or subjective point of view, what, if anything, can we know? How do we know that we know? How have our ideas regarding these questions advanced over time?

Through the framework of the major worldviews in western civilization, the course explores the development of physics from classical to the present. Classical Physics examines matter at the macroscopic scale through optics, mechanics, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics. Modern Physics peers into the substructure of the universe at subatomic and cosmic scales by means of quantum mechanics, relativity and cosmology. Some of the key contributors to classical physics considered include Euclid, Alhazen, Descartes, Newton, Galilei, Kepler, Maxwell, Hume, Hooke, Euler, Boltzmann, and Kelvin, while to modern physics include Einstein, Bohr, Planck, Heisenberg, Schrödinger, Feynman, Dirac, Pauli, Higgs and Hawking. These scientists have profoundly shaped modern physics, addressing fundamental questions about the nature of matter, energy, space, and time. Their theories and discoveries continue to influence the field and our understanding of the universe today, as well as having ushered in technologies that have transformed human life.

Concurrently, the exhortation by the Oracle of Delphi ‘Know thyself’ is examined. Notwithstanding scientific advances of the last two millennia, have we made progress toward an understanding of the foundations of human matter and mind. The course invites students to answer this question as they scrutinize contemporary perspectives on the nature of consciousness, the self, reality and the concept of truth through the lens of each of the Aristotelian-Medieval, Cartesian, Newtonian, the Modern and Post-modern world views. In addition, the course also examines insights from the principal schools of psychology: behaviourism, humanism, cognitive, psychoanalytical and biological psychology.

Course Delivery and Dates

The course will be delivered through weekly lecture and tutorial sessions, selective reading material and bi-weekly assignments.

This is a graduate-level course which can be taken by MEng, MASc, and PhD students. The course is offered to graduate engineering students across the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering as well as graduate science students in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

Senior undergraduate students interested in taking the course are requested to contact the instructor at: nazir.kherani@utoronto.ca

Class hours: This course comprises of 3h lectures held weekly (Thursdays 2pm-5pm) and seminar-style tutorials (Fridays 2pm-4pm). The lectures are in-person.

Delivery of Course Material: In addition to the delivery of comprehensive lectures, selective reading material will be assigned weekly. Bi-weekly assignments comprising reflections and analysis will be based on the selective reading material, whereby students will have the opportunity to compare, contrast, conjecture and present rational compelling views on the nature of reality – using physics and philosophical constructs. The course includes one research paper – presentation; the presentations will be scheduled during a research seminar day near the end of the term. The course concludes with an in-person final exam.

The course content, delivery and assessment will be in accordance with established University academic standards.

Registration Note

MSE 1022S will soon be listed on ACORN.