Mankind in the Universe

How do we find our place in the Universe?  How do we make sense of what is around us?   How do we interact with what is around us and what rules do we and should we follow?   We are bombarded with responses to these questions every day through interactions with friends, colleagues, family, media, politicians, celebrities...the list is endless.   How can we decide?

In this course, we look at the concept of “objectivity” and what that actually means to us in our everyday lives.   We encourage the diverse cohort of students on the course to discuss these issues, and thus look at how those studying varying disciplines may, or may not, have different perspectives.    We start by looking at the scientific method through a ‘quick tour of the Universe’ – how we got to our present understanding of e.g. the Solar System and of the atom.   We look at objectivity as a philosophical principle, how our world is shaped by values and also through the concept of “Myth” – how science and religious thought interact.

From this baseline we look at some of the “big issues” – some topics which can be highly emotive, such as evolution, genetics, animal testing and climate change.  

The course is delivered by a highly interdisciplinary team, and thus the classes will vary in style and delivery, as each person attempts to reflect how their subject area takes on the problems outlined above and raises “the big questions” of Life, The Universe, and Everything!