The question “What is science?” may be regarded as a newer version of the old philosophical question “What is knowledge?” However, in order to answer this question, we need both philosophical analysis and historical knowledge of science.
This department was founded in 1993, and it aims at an integrated study of philosophical and historical problems about science. Since this is an interdisciplinary study, students are expected to have some knowledge in several fields of science, and to train their abilities of logical and philosophical analysis of scientific theories and activities. For advanced and broader studies, sociological and cross-cultural approaches to science and technology may be necessary.
In addition to introductory courses on philosophy of science and on history of science, several lectures and seminars on various topics are offered: logic, logical empiricism, Scientific Revolution, scientific realism, scientific thought in the 19th century, and other related matters.

• Philosophy and History of Science Web Site

This is a new department established in 1996. Its aim is to carry out research and to diffuse information about the twentieth century. This century is extremely important not only because it is our own, but also because it is a century which has experienced communism, fascism and two World Wars, events which have moulded the consciousness of everyone who has lived through the past one hundred years. Today, we are confronted with a new historical epoch symbolized by the globalization in both economical and cultural affairs.
This century can be understood in terms of economic forces and sociological perspectives. But its meaning can also be understood through the philosophy it created, the literature it inspired, and through other forms such as films of the time in short – through the imaginative life.
Our intention is, therefore, to combine the research methods of both the social sciences and humanities sectors, most of which have originated in the last century, and thus create new research methods.
This year, lecture courses are to be given on the following subjects: Comparative study on comics (Manga) and films of the 20th century, and on memorization of wars.

The department works in close collaboration with the Department of Contemporary History in its teaching and research activities.

• http://www.bun.kyoto-u.ac.jp/20century/ (in Japanese)

Since its foundation in 1966, the department has been engaged in educational and research activities on modern and contemporary history with a special emphasis on its international and global nature. Students are encouraged to take broader perspectives that transcend national boundaries even when examining the history of a particular country. For its educational activities, the department receives the support of staff members from other faculties, including the Faculty of Integrated Human Studies and the Institute for Research in Humanities. In 2008-2009, lecture courses will be given on the modern history of Japan, China, Korea, Germany, the United States, and international relations.

• http://www.bun.kyoto-u.ac.jp/contemporary/ (in Japanese)

The Department of Humanistic Informatics is the newest department of the graduate school in the sense that Susumu Hayashi became the first professor of the department in 2005 after a long vacancy in the position. It undertakes “bilateral” researches in humanity and science-technology.

Sociological and historical studies on information and communication technologies are main study fields of the department. We study the influences of technologies on societies and cultures, and vice versa. An example of studies of the latter sort is an analysis of Japanese information technology and industry in the light of sociological theories of rationality, intended to propose policies to improve Japanese software research and industry.

We also undertake scientific-technological studies of informatics guided by our humanistic studies. Examples are software for philological and historical studies and logic based on the computational learning theory.

• Humanistic Informatics Web Site (in Japanese)