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                         %NATURAL PHILOSOPHY MAJORS 731102

     Over  the period of many hundreds of years  what  was
known  as  natural  philosophy  fragmented  and  became  a
collection  of specialized disciplines including  what  we
know today as:  physics, chemistry, biology,  mathematics,
geology,   meteorology,  oceanography,  astronomy,   space
science,  computer science, theology, and philosophy.  The
process  of fragmentation and specialization continues  in
each fragment  of natural philosophy.

     In  recent years some have come to doubt the survival
value  of the traditional physics major in the context  of
liberal  arts  colleges  that are seeking to survive in  a
culture   that  has  started  to  examine  the  value   of
traditional  collegiate  programs.   It may be helpful  to
reconsider the fragmentation process to see if there would
be value  in  an  integrative  process.  Perhaps something
closer to a natural philosophy major would be more helpful
to liberal arts  students---than the technical training of
the  traditional  physics major which was  designed  as  a
graduate  school  prep curriculum  which has little carry-
over value within other contexts.

     The  student  in a typical liberal arts  college  has
little opportunity to be exposed to geology,  meteorology,
oceanography,   astronomy,   space  science,   technology,
philosophy of science,  history of science,  and critiques
of science ---  in  any coherent way.   Yet an integrative
comprehensive study of these aspects of natural philosophy
would  be  more helpful and have more carry-over value  to
more  students than does the traditional  graduate  school
prep curriculum.   Thus,  it may be possible  to develop a
helpful major through an integrative revisiting of some of
the perceptions to be found in what was historically known
as natural philosophy.

     There  are  some  who argue that a  student  can  not
profit greatly  from interdisciplinary study---until  they
have  a firm  training in one narrowed defined discipline.
Their arguments point to certain realities.  The wise will
also  point  to  the  reality  that  specialized  training
narrows  a  person's  vision by involving  him or  her  in
collusions and unexamined assumptions.   Thus,  it will be
wise for  some students to participate in broadly  focused
majors,   while  others  participate in  narrowly  focused
majors.
                         (c) 1999 by Paul A. Smith in
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