本課程藉著研讀當代西方哲學家懷德海(A. N. Whitehead) 的經典之作：《理性的功能》，討論人類文明歷史的關鍵：科學與理性的發展、二者的互動，以及如何通過理性推動人類文明的進步。本書原是懷德海1929年在普林斯頓大學所做的Louis Clark Vanuxem Foundation Lecture，後經出版，共有四章。本課程將每章分為三至六個小節，共計十二節，將與學生逐字研讀，並就其中重點(理性的真正功能、適者生存、經驗與環境、理論理性與實踐理性、最終因與目的，理性的演化等等)討論。課程內容無疑具有豐富的公共性與自主性。

This course discusses the key points of the history of human civilization: the development of science and rationality, the interaction between the two, and how to promote the progress of human civilization through rationality. This book was originally the Louis Clark Vanuxem Foundation Lecture, which was created by Princeton University in 1929. It was published later and has four chapters. This course divides each chapter into three to six small sections, with a total of twelve sections, which will be studied word by word with students, and discuss the key points (the true function of reason, the survival of the appropriate person, experience and environment, theoretical rationality and practical rationality, the final cause and purpose, the evolution of rationality, etc.). The course content is undoubtedly rich in public and autonomy.

A. N. Whitehead, The Function of Reason (New Jersey: Princeton University, 1929).
《教育与科学︰理性的功能》。简体书，[英]A.N.怀特海。黄铭译。大象出版社。2010-03。

A. N. Whitehead, The Function of Reason (New Jersey: Princeton University, 1929).
"Education and Science: The Function of Ration". Simplified Chinese book, [English] A.N. Whitehead.黄铭译。 Elephant Publishing House. 2010-03.