SOME NOTES ON The HISTORY OF SCIENCE

As a subject of academic study and research, the History of Science is something very new. As in many other matters of this kind, the pioneer was the University of London, where in University College a department was instituted in 1924—a postgraduate department in which graduates in science in the University of London, or those who hold an equivalent qualification from another university, may proceed to the degree of M.Sc. in the History and Philosophy of Science by means of an examination, Part I of which consists of four written papers (three in the History and one in the Philosophy of Science), while Part II demands the preparation of a dissertation on some approved topic, a dissertation necessitating close study of original material and being essentially a first research. Those who obtain the degree of M.Sc. in this subject may proceed to the degree of Ph.D. by further research: and the D.Sc. degree is awarded for extensive original publications and contributions to the subject. Here, therefore, at University College, the history of science and the philosophy of science are studied in the usual academic framework of higher learning and research. Further, it is the only department of its kind, so far as is known, in any university in the world.