In this course we discuss the concept of symmetry as it figures in
the development of modern science and, in particular, physics.  We
begin by looking at the early history of symmetry considerations in
science, this taking us back to ancient times and birth of science
itself.  We go on to trace some of the interesting highlights of the
history of symmetry considerations in the development of modern
science in the early modern period.  Finally we come to
the “symmetry revolution” of the 20th century, discussing Einstein’s
elevation of symmetry principles to new heights with his special and
general theories of relativity, the central role of symmetry in the
newly emergent quantum theory, and the  culmination of these
developments in the symmetry-dictates-interaction paradigm that gets
codified in the standard model of particle physics---what is now the
most far reaching and accurate theory of the world that we have even
known.   Thus it is today that one commonly hears that, at root, it
is symmetries that underlay the detailed structure of the entire
edifice of our current physical world view.  Along the way there
will be much discussion of what sort of “philosophical significance”
might be ascribed to the various roles that symmetry has played and
continues to play.  The course is suitable for non-specialists with
basic math skills and an interest in the world view of modern
physics.