I'm a science dummy who wants learn how shit happens/works. What classes to take?

[CynicalIdealist]

Topic.

Also anything I should read?

[tir1944]

Start with the theory of everything.

[black magick hustla]

major in physics lol, its basically about that

[thefinalmarch]

Chemistry is pretty cool too and it gave me something of a new perspective of the world -- it let me understand me why everyday chemical matter behaves the way it does in terms of the electromagnetic force (electromagnetism governs chemical processes, and also why chemical matter takes on particular structural forms, etc.).

[ВАЛТЕР]

Science is the devil, what you need to do is find jeeezzuus!!

/troll

What class to take? I say go with physics to see how stuff works. However biology can be very interesting as well.

[Koba1917]

Matters on what you want to learn :lol:. There is atleast a bajillion fields and each one full of funtastic things. I'm fairly well read on the basics of Biology, I recommend downloading
Campbell Biology (9th Edition) (http://library.nu/docs/Q8LN5GDAXF/Campbell%20Biology%2C%209th%20Edition).

[Revolution starts with U]

Math. Go as far into math as you can. That way you can choose any scientific field you want, as a major or a hobby, and will at least have the structural foundation for scientific knowledge. You don't need math to casually understand these matters (you could just read A Brief History of Time or something like that). But with it, you will come to understand them far better. :thumbup1:

[Revolution starts with U]

Understanding the whole world is fairly large goal.

The only thing I know, is that I know nothing :thumbup:

[Azraella]

Anything psychology. Though because I'm feeling ramble-like please excuse this:

In recent years 'science' has taken on a lot of the connotations of a dogmatic religion, with lots of 'denominations' all claiming to be purer than the others and more relevant.

I (personally) do not know of a science that (until recently) claimed to know very much at all (OK, some physicists at the end of the 19C thought we did know all there was to know apart from a few details).

Science, in reality, stumbles in a sort of coherent fashion up a ladder of knowledge, kicking away old, rotting planks of defunct theory as it goes - Theories that were sworn-by until being declared defunct.

Psychology is a relatively young science which looks at 'Human Beings', the most complex 'system' we are conscious of. Indeed, even being 'conscious' is a subject of psychology. It is THE most difficult science of them all and may one day prove to be the most important.

Meanwhile it gets just as many things wrong as all the other disciplines.


I am a scientist.

I am wrong several times a year.

On average. :p

How about a critique of Newton? He believed in alchemy and the philosopher's stone. MOST of his work reflected that.

(I am obviously biased)

[Misanthrope]

library.nu

find text books.

[The Jay]

Definitely read physics books. Try Fundamentals of Physics by Halliday and Walker.

[Fawkes]

physics, biology, chemistry, geometry, astronomy, algebra, psychology, anthropology, calculus, trigonometry, oceanography, geology, archeology, the list is endless, it just depends on where your greatest interests are.

Also, if you're interested in "how shit happens/works" in terms of human society, any film theory, lit. theory, media, anthropology (again), history, art history, social psychology, or gender/feminist/queer theory course/book would be great.