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。This course discusses the key points of the history of human civilization: the development of science and reason, the interaction between the two, and how to promote through rationality by studying the classic work of contemporary Western philosopher A. N. Whitehead The progress of human civilization. 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 will focus on the key points (the true function of rationality, the survival of the appropriate person, experience and environment, theoretical rationality and practical rationality, and the final cause Discuss about purpose, evolution of rationality, etc.).
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。
俞懿嫻，(1993年6月)。〈評《達爾文之後--自然歷史之省思》(Ever Since Darwin: Reflections in Natural History) by Stephen Jay Gould”〉，《哲學雜誌》，5， 頁204-213。
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. Translated by Huang Ming. Elephant Publishing House. 2010-03.
Yu Yi-Lao, (June 1993). 《Ever Since Darwin: Reflections in Natural History by Stephen Jay Gould》》《Philosophy Magazine, 5, page 204-213.
| 評分項目 Grading Method | 配分比例 Grading percentage | 說明 Description |
|---|---|---|
| 期中考期中考 Midterm exam |
30 | 隨堂考試 |
| 期末考期末考 Final exam |
40 | 隨堂考試 |
| 書面作業及分組口頭報告書面作業及分組口頭報告 Paperwork and sub-organization head report |
30 | 分組口頭報告，書面報告含翻譯摘要、單字表、心得感想 |
