Each lecture course has associated with it some items of reading. One aim of the lectures and supervisions is to make this reading accessible by explaining the ideas, approaches and terminology of the different writers.
You will need to master the readings to write the essays and follow the course. Make sure you give yourself time to read and re-read this material.
Fully edited reading lists for all Part IB lecture courses can be found on the HPS Part IB Moodle sites. These include classmarks of all the books you'll need from the Whipple Library, plus links to the full text of material published online, and scans of selected readings for you to download. Check Moodle regularly as lecture handouts and additional scans will be posted throughout the year.
The Whipple Library in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science is one of the largest specialist collections for HPS in the UK. It holds or provides access to all the material on the lecture course reading lists, in hard copy and/or online via Moodle. Part IB students are welcome and encouraged to use it while studying HPS.
You are strongly advised to familiarise yourself with the Library at the beginning of the year – come to one of the induction sessions advertised in the first week of term or drop in and speak to a member of staff. Bring your University Card to register for borrowing, and for swipecard access during late opening.
We do our best to provide as much material as possible online for Part IB students (subject to copyright restrictions), but sometimes there may be pressure on hard copies at busy times. Check your College library for alternative copies of core texts (most will have some), and consider recommending any that you think they should have to your College librarian or your DoS. If you can't get hold of something on a reading list, please come and tell us at the Whipple and we'll do what we can to help.