TIME:

M: 5-8pm

Objectives and Contents

In this course we will examine some of the central issues in the philosophy of science. The emphasis of this course is on philosophy. That is, we will be asking some general philosophical questions about science and will pay only very little attention to the specific content of modern scientific theories. Thus, in depth knowledge of a particular science is not a prerequisite for the course. Some of the topics and questions we will be discussing are:

Ø Is there a rational scientific method which dictates how science develops? What is the relation between theory and observation? What is the role of scientific revolutions?

Ø How do social factors and values influence scientific theory choice? Are feminist critics justified when they claim that there is a sexist bias in science?

Ø Do the sciences aim to provide us with literally true accounts of the world or only with useful calculational devices? We cannot, for example, directly observe quarks or genes; what evidence, then, do we have that they really exist? Should we perhaps think of quarks and genes only as useful fictions that help us to predict and control our environment?

Ø What are scientific theories and scientific laws? What role do models play in scientific practice?

Prerequisites: Graduate standing in Philosophy or consent of instructor.

TEXTS:

Ø Hacking, Representing and Intervening (Cambridge).

Ø Janet Kourany, The Gender of Science" (Prentice Hall)

Ø David Papineau, The Philosophy of Science (Oxford)

(Optional)

Ø M. Curd and J. A. Cover, Philosophy of Science: The Central Issues (W. W. Norton).

REQUIRED WORK:

Weekly reading assignments, to be completed before each class session.
Class participation and attendance.
Class presentations.
Weekly reading reaction papers. (1 page max)
Term Paper (50% of grade)

Ø While students are encouraged to discuss the material, and their papers with their peers, all submitted work must be your own. The university has strict sanctions for plagiarism: it is your responsibility to understand what is. Academic dishonesty will be pursued to the full extent of the law: no second chances will be given

Ø Extensions will only be granted in extraordinary circumstances, and then only by advance agreement with the instructor.

Tentative Class Schedule:

Week 1. Winsberg

Week 2: Popper: “Conjectures and Refutations”; Kuhn: “Logic of Discovery or Psychology of research?”; Lakatos: “Science and Pseudoscience”; Ruse: “Creation Science is not science”; Laudan: “commentary--science at the bar.”

[All of the above are in section one of C&C, I will make photocopies available p.r.n.]

Week 3: Popper: “The Problem of Induction” (in C&C); Carnap: “The Confirmation of Laws and Theories”; Hacking: Introduction.

Week 4: Hanson: selections, Duhem: “Physical theory and experiment” (in C&C), and chapter 10 of Hacking.

Week 5: Kuhn: “The nature and necessity of scientific revolutions” and “Objectivity, Value Judgement, and Theory Choice.”; McMullin “Rationality and Paradigm change in science.” [all in C&C]

Week 6: Maxwell: “The ontological status of theoretical entities”[C&C]; van Fraassen “Arguments concerning scientific realism”[C&C]; Hacking: chapter 3;

Week 7:

Laudan: “A confutation of Convergent realism”[in both Papineau and C&C]; Worrall “Structural realism, the best of both worlds”[in papineau]; Hacking 7

Week 8 Fine: “The natural ontologica attitute”; Musgrave: “NOA’s ark” [both in both compilations].

Week 9 Hacking chapter 16; Hacking: “Experimentation and Scientific Realism”; Resnick “Hacking’s experimental realism” [both in C&C]

Week 10 Ayer:“What is a law of nature”; Dretske “Laws of nature” [both in C&C]

Week 11 Giere: “Science without laws”; Cartwright “Fundamentalism vs. the Patchwork of Laws” [in Papineau]; Hacking chapter 12

Week 12—15

Topics to be selected from Kourany

Philosophy ???? Spring 2002

REQUIRED WORK: