PHIL 260 Philosophy of Science

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Department of Philosophy

Phil 260: Philosophy of Science

(1) Course Content

This course in the Philosophy of Science presupposes no prior acquaintance with philosophy or with any particular science. However to ensure that there is some common scientific background, some episodes from the history of science will be discussed, in particular Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection.  The course will be conducted at an advanced undergraduate level.

What is science? How is science to be defined?  There are several different definitions of science depending on the conception of scientific method that is adopted. We will explore several theories some of which will be selected from the following list:

1. Scientific method as proof or disproof (i.e., verifiability and falsifiability);
2. The problem of induction and the naïve inductivist model of science;
3. Hypothetico-deductivism, its strengths and its weaknesses and some applications;
4. Inference to the best explanation (this will be illustrated in several ways including Darwin’s defence of his theory of natural selection against special creationism);
5. Popper’s theory of critical rationalism;
6. Thomas Kuhn’s theory of scientific revolutions;
7. Lakatos’ theory of scientific research programmes;
8. Probabilistic modes of reasoning in science as well as the theory of random clinical trials;
9. Newton’s conception of science;
10. How the above bear on the issue of pseudo-science.

Further issues that might be discussed include:

1. What are laws of nature? (as distinct from ‘what are the laws of nature?’)
2. What is causation in science (including Mill’s methods of test)?
3. Can science give a picture of what the world is really like (i.e., the debate between realism and antirealism)?
4. The clash between science and religion (in particular the case of Darwinian evolution).
5. Can science answer all questions or does it have limits?
6. What are explanation and prediction in science?

(2) Texts

There will be at least one Coursebook. There are no prescribed texts. However students should read some of the highly recommended text: Alan Chalmers, What is This Thing Called Science (Queensland University Press, St Lucia, third edition 1999, fourth edition 2013); it covers much of the course and is available in the Library.

Further Reading: This will be given in class or placed on Cecil.

(3) Goals of the Course

• To provide some knowledge of important episodes in the history of science;
• To illustrate ways in which scientific method bears on those episodes;
• To give an account of the variety of scientific methods and their application in the case of particular sciences;
• To examine when claims can be deemed to be scientific and when not, in particular the nature of pseudo-science;
• To show what bearing philosophy can have upon science.
• To show how science relates to other non-scientific matters such as religion.

(4) Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students will be expected to:

• Display some knowledge of the variety of scientific methods;
• To show how these methods apply to some episode in science;
• To have an appreciation of the different ways in which science can be defined and be able to critically examine these;
• To determine what is rational about science and how its rationality is exhibited;
• To obtain a grasp of probabilistic reasoning so essential in science;
• To be aware of some episodes in the history of science and why they might be judged to constitute an advance in science;
• To be analytic and logical in one’s approach and to show some mastery of the principles of reasoning and method that are used in science (and elsewhere);
• Be able to present an argued case in writing about philosophy of science.
• To be able to correctly and cogently organise your thoughts in writing exercises, the essay and the final examination.

(5) Attendance

Students will be required to attend two lectures per week and a one hour tutorial. Attendance at the tutorial is essential as students will be required to complete the writing exercise component of the coursework in the tutorials (see (7.1) below)

(6) The following items are a provision indication of tutorial requirements and the final exam. Final details will be given when the class commences.

(6.1) Coursework

There are two coursework requirements.

1. Students will be required to complete one essay (worth a maximum of 20%).
2. In each tutorial, students will be required to do a writing assignment of about 15-20 minutes duration based on assigned readings. There will be 11 tutorials and a minimum of 8 writing exercises will be required to be completed over the 11 tutorial sessions (worth a maximum of 20%). The remainder of the tutorial time will be devoted to a discussion of specified topics.

The maximum total coursework mark is therefore 40%.

More details about coursework will be announced in class, such as the topic of the essay and its due date, the writing assignment topics and the readings, etc.

(6.2) Final Examination. There will be a two-hour final examination.

(6.3) Final Grade for Phil 260 students

The final grade will be determined as follows: 40% coursework and 60% final examination. However plussage applies; that is your grade is the higher of either (i) your final examination, or (ii) where the coursework is higher than the grade for the final examination, this grade is raised so that your final grade is [40% coursework + 60% final examination mark]. Thus your coursework mark can increase your final grade.

(7) Other Relevant Undergraduate Courses

• Phil 261 or 361, a course in metaphysics;
• Phil 266, a course in logic, probability and rationality.