PHIL20320 Philosophy of Science

Academic Year 2022/2023

Which kinds of activity count as science? Can we tell the difference between science and pseudo-science? What is scientific objectivity? Does the influence of political and moral values on science obstruct scientific progress? These are some of the questions we will explore in this introductory module in the philosophy of science. The module is divided into two parts. The first part introduces some of the major positions in philosophy of science and addresses questions regarding scientific expertise, scientific reasoning, the nature and reliability of the scientific method, and the aims of scientific research. The second part will explore contemporary challenges concerning the influence of values on scientific research, the epistemic desirability of diversity in scientific communities, and the role of errors in science. These questions will be analysed in the light of examples from the history of science and current scientific practice."

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Students who successfully complete this course will have (1) a good grasp of the central issues in the philosophy of science, (2) engaged critically with the most important views and arguments in this area, and (3) developed some independent thoughts and arguments on some of those issues.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

8
Specified Learning Activities

18
Autonomous Student Learning

75
Total

125
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
In person lectures.
In class opportunities to participate in discussions and debates.
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
PHIL30100 - Philosophy of Science


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: 1700 words Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

45
Continuous Assessment: Submission of short discussion questions in the tutorials. Throughout the Trimester n/a Graded No

10
Essay: 1700 words Week 7 n/a Graded No

45

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Essay feedback will be provided approximately two -three weeks after the submission of the essay. Students are also encouraged to consult with their lecturer on the choice of topic and their approach to the essay at least two weeks prior to the submission deadline.

Required readings

Week 1
• Hume, D. (1748). Enquiry concerning Human Understanding. Read Sections IV-V. URL: http://www.earlymoderntexts.com/assets/pdfs/hume1748.pdf
Week 2
• Martini, Carlo (2019). "The Epistemology of Expertise." In Miranda Fricker, Peter J. Graham, David Henderson, & Nikolaj J. L. L. Pedersen (eds.) The Routledge Handbook of Social Epistemology (pp. 115-122). Routledge.
• Hansson, Sven Ove (2021). "Science and Pseudo-Science", Read sections 1-3. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2021 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.),
URL = .
• Laudan, Larry (1983). “The Demise of the Demarcation Problem”. In R.S. Cohan and L. Laudan (eds.), Physics, Philosophy, and Psychoanalysis (pp. 111–127). Dordrecht: Reidel.
Week 3
• Creath, Richard (2021). "Logical Empiricism". The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2021 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.). URL = .
• Ladyman, James (2002). “Falsificationism”. In Understanding philosophy of science (pp. 104-147). London: Routledge.
• Popper, Karl (1963). “Science: Conjectures and Refutations”. In Conjectures and Refutations (pp. 33-65). London: Routledge and Kegan Paul. URL: < http://goo.gl/mQ8WVo >
Week 4
• Nickles, Thomas (2021). "Historicist Theories of Scientific Rationality", Read Subsections 1.1-1.3 of Section 1. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Spring 2021 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
URL = .
• Ladyman, James (2002). “Revolutions and Rationality”. In Understanding philosophy of science (pp. 148-195). London: Routledge.
• Kuhn, Thomas S. (1977). “Objectivity, Value Judgement, and Theory Choice”. In The essential tension (pp. 320-339). Chicago: University of Chicago Press. URL = < http://goo.gl/aDEQHn >.
Week 5
• Musgrave, Alan and Charles Pigden (2021). "Imre Lakatos", Read Sections 1-3. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2021 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
URL = .
• Lakatos, Imre (1978). The Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes, Read Sections 1-3 of Chapter 1. Cambridge University Press.
• Feyerabend, Paul (1975/2010). Against Method. Read Chapters 1-4 4th ed., New York, NY: Verso Books. URL:
Week 6
• Chakravartty, Anjan (2017). "Scientific Realism", Read Sections 1-2. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2017 Edition), Edward N. Zalta. (ed.).
URL = .
• Monton, Bradley and Chad Mohler (2021). "Constructive Empiricism". The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2021 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
URL = .
• Van Fraassen, Bas C. (1980). “Arguments Concerning Scientific Realism”. In The Scientific Image (pp. 6-40). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Week 7
• TBD
Week 8
• Reiss, Julian and Jan Sprenger (2020). "Scientific Objectivity", Read Sections 1-3. In The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2020 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.).
URL = .
• Longino, Helen (1990). “Values and Objectivity”. In Science as Social Knowledge. Values and Objectivity in Scientific Inquiry (pp. 62-82). Princeton/NJ: Princeton University Press.
Week 9
• Rooney, Phyllis (1992). “On Values in Science: Is the Epistemic/Non-Epistemic Distinction useful?”. Proceedings of the Biennial Meetings of the PSA 1992: 13-22.
• Kourany, Janet A. (2010). “Challenges from Every Direction”. In Philosophy of Science after Feminism (pp. 80-104). OUP USA.
Week 10
• Laudan, Larry (1981). "A Confutation of Convergent Realism." Philosophy of Science 48 (1): 19-49.
• Hempel, Carl G. (1965). “Science and Human Values”. In Aspects of Scientific Explanation (81-96). New York: The Free Press.

Week 11
• Fehr, Carla (2011). "What Is in It for Me? The Benefits of Diversity in Scientific Communities." In Heidi E. Grasswick (ed.) Feminist epistemology and philosophy of science (pp. 133-155). Springer, Dordrecht.
• Barrotta, Pierluigi, & Eleonora Montuschi (2018). "The Dam Project: Who Are the Experts?". In P. Barrotta & G. Scarafile (eds.), Science and Democracy: Controversies and Conflicts, (17-34). Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
Week 12
No reading.