PHIL 209(F) Philosophy of Science

It is a generally held belief, in our times and culture, that our best knowledge of the world-and of ourselves-comes from scientific investigations. The aim of this course is to examine the nature of this belief and the reasoning(s) which typically support it. Our examination will cover central issues in the contemporary philosophy of science: criteria of demarcation between science and non-science, science and pseudo-science, natural and social sciences; contemporary scientific methodology and scientific reasoning; scientific discovery, the nature and justification of scientific theories and hypotheses; relation of theory to observation; scientific explanation; conceptual change, the growth of scientific knowledge and progress in science; and the relationship between science and the society which produces it.
Requirements: class participation, frequent short assignments and/or quizzes, two 5-page papers and a final exam, consisting of two take-home essays and an in-class quiz.
Prerequisite: Philosophy 102 or 103 or permission of the instructor.