I'm about a month into my sabbatical, and while it seems to be going fast, I'm happy with my progress. Some of my projects are in the field of philosophy of science. I was formally introduced to the field when I began team-teaching an Honors course that explores how science and the Bible interact. Philosophy of science is a discipline that explores what science is, how it works, and what it means in our lives. A large part of the philosophy of science in the course curriculum I was teaching centers on how science works. This not only includes the way scientists think, but also the scientific enterprise as a whole. I was (and still am) intrigued with philosophy of science for a few reasons.
1. It makes me evaluate the way I have been trained to think as a scientist. What confidence do I have in our current scientific models and theories? (I do, by the way, but can I articulate a good reason why I believe that is so?)
2. It makes me take stock of my own teaching. I'm having to figure out how to explain chemistry to non-specialists in the bigger framework of how science works. That lends itself easily to teaching undergraduates and being part of the larger science and religion dialogue within my communities.
3. It gives me language and tools to talk about ideas that science has spurred. Ideas that have foundations in science, but are philosophical in nature.
The research proposal that brought me to Oxford a few years ago is a part of reason 3. I remember the first time I learned about molecular symmetry theory. I was in my fourth undergraduate year nearing graduation. I learned about how chemists classify molecules based on their symmetry and as a result, can explain certain chemical behavior. I was enthralled thinking about the beauty of molecules and how that beauty can describe why molecules behave the way they do. Years later, I found myself teaching a course with a Biblical studies/philosophy professor about science and the Bible, and molecular symmetry came up again. This time though, it was in the realm of philosophy of science. I soon discovered that there is a wealth of philosophy written about aesthetics in science. Along the way, I also realized there are other questions philosophy of science wrestles with; questions that are some of the same ones I've thought or been asked about. Little by little, I'm gaining the knowledge and skills to be able to contribute to this discipline, and figure out the best ways to impact my own teaching of science. A good chunk of my sabbatical will be spent researching and writing papers in philosophy of science. As the semester goes along, I might blog more about those topics. That is one reason my sabbatical is so timely. I have the time to improve my philosophy of science knowledge, and also contemplate ways to implement it into my teaching. I mentioned before about how a sabbatical brings time to think.
It's true.
And I'm loving it.
