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PHIL20620

Academic Year 2025/2026

Philosophy of Social Science (PHIL20620)

Subject:
Philosophy
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Philosophy
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Elena Gordon
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

What is a ‘social science’? Should social science be properly considered as a form of scientific enquiry? Do the public need a better understanding of social science than they currently have? What role should philosophers play in sharpening public understanding of social scientific issues? What is the difference between science and pseudoscience? How can we tell the difference between science and pseudoscience, truth and bullshit? These are the questions we begin to ask as we investigate what it means to engage in the philosophy of social science. We then apply our findings to key issues in population ethics, climate justice, social choice theory, and social epistemology.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of the module students will:
(i) have an understanding of the central ideas in the philosophy of science and the philosophy of social science;
(ii) have a philosophical understanding of some of the fundamental ideas used in Economics and in Social/Political Theory;
(iii) be able to develop their own arguments about how to employ these fundamental ideas;
(iv) be able to express these arguments in a clear, coherent and well-informed way.

Indicative Module Content:

For Autumn 2025:
Introduction to Philosophy of Social Science
Science and Pseudoscience
Bullshit, Philosophy, and Pseudoscience
Social Science, Philosophy, and the General Public
Social Choice Theory
Population Ethics
People and the Environment I: Climate Change
People and the Environment II: Conservation
Social Epistemology

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

8
Autonomous Student Learning

93
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures; tutorials; independent learning in preparation for short essays and exams. There will be no opportunity to use generative Al for any of the assignments, and if a student thinks they need to use ChatGPT, Grammarly or some other version of GenAI they must discuss this with the module co-ordinator in advance.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Additional Information:
This module is only available for stage 2 PPE students.


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Participation in Learning Activities: Tutorial participation Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
10
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): 1500 Word Essay (details to be provided during module). Week 6 Graded No
30
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Reading Task: a 750 word response to an assigned reading: Details to be supplied during the module. Week 9 Graded No
20
 No
Exam (Take-Home): Final Essay/Take Home Exam: 2000 words – 40%. (Details to be provided during the module.) Week 12 Graded No
40
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

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, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback on the essay is provided in the form of comments and a grade within two weeks of the submission deadline.

Name Role
Dr Elena Gordon Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor James O'Shea Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Yik Long Leung Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Fri 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Fri 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Fri 14:00 - 14:50
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