We often think of science in what the medieval philosophers termed in actu exercito - in exercised act. That is, we think of science as something that we learn in order to do or at least to know the current state of the art. Rarely do we think of the long history of science as a discipline of much interest. Every new accomplishment seems to be the most important aspect of science, so what use can there be to study the history of science? It turns out, there is a lot of use to it, but the barrier to entry is often very steep and difficult to climb. If you are taking a course in the history of science or the philosophy of science, Varsity Tutors can help you connect with the perfect tutor to aid you in this complex field of studies through one-on-one history of science tutoring.
Studying the history of science requires a two-fold set of skills. On the one hand, you must be able to digest the many forms of information and sources that are presented for a history course. Indeed, if your course really covers the whole of scientific history, you will need to learn about even the early mathematical accomplishments of the Egyptians and Greeks, along with the modern themes of quantum mechanics and non-Euclidean geometry. From the detailed works of Aristotle to the Arab astronomers to Dietrich of Fribourg's explanation of the rainbow in the fourteenth century, many of your courses will discuss scientific discoveries that predate the main concepts of science that are such an integral part of the popular historical imagination. Add to that the history of classical mechanics, the great climax and seismic shifts of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in physics, and contemporary topics, and you have quite a difficult set of historical facts and figures with which to become acquainted. Furthermore, the subtleties of the philosophy of science, both ancient and modern, and the extra-scientific skills that you need are quite formidable. On the other hand, the history of science also requires comprehension of technological accomplishment; therefore, you will need apt skills in the basic outlines of scientific knowledge across various disciplines in order to master this course. In order to find success in this difficult field, consider requesting the help of a tutor. History of science tutoring can be quite helpful in dissecting the dual nature of historical and scientific mastery.
