Critical Reasoning in Science and Society

CLASS TIME: MW 1:00-1:50; see your schedule for discussion section times.

This class can satisfy EITHER the USF general education requirement in the social sciences or in the natural sciences. It ALSO satisfies the Gordon Rule Communications requirement.

Objectives and Contents:

Are carbon dioxide emissions making the world warmer? Is there a gene responsible for homosexual behavior? Are genetically modified foods a threat to our health or our environment?

In a democratic society, we all need to participate in decisions that depend on knowing the answers to some of these questions. But how do we go about finding the answers? The objective of this class is learn to become a better “scientific citizen”; i.e. to be able to better understand and participate in the process by which we come to conclusions about the natural and social world that matter to us as a society. To be able to do this is a skill, and skills are best learned by practice. Throughout the course, therefore, we will focus on examples like the ones above to practice our scientific reasoning skills.

Texts:

Ø R. N. Giere, Understanding Scientific Reasoning.

Ø J. D. Watson, The Double Helix.

Ø H. Collins and T. Pinch, The Golem: What you should know about science.

Ø Course Packet (available on electronic reserve or on the internet):

Popper “Conjectures and Refutations”

Hume An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, §7

http://www.bartleby.com/37/3/9.html and

http://www.bartleby.com/37/3/10.html

“Summary for Policymakers” report on global warming of the IPCC

http://www.ipcc.ch/pub/spm22-01.pdf

Topics, readings:

I: Introduction

Section on Academic Misconduct, p11-12, 2002 Undergraduate Catalog.

Watson, Double Helix
Giere 2.1-3

II: Testing Theories
Giere 2.4-11, 3
Golem 4-6

III: Science, Nonscience and the Fringes
Giere 4
Golem 1, 3
Popper “Conjectures and Refutations”

IV: Statistical Hypotheses
Giere 5-6

V: Causation

Giere 7-8
Hume An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, §7

VI: Case studies

“Summary for Policymakers” report on global warming of the IPCC.

TBA

Requirements:

Ø Topic I: No written requirements.

Ø Topic II: Exercise Set + Paper (5%, 15%)

Ø Topic III: Paper (20%)

Ø Topic IV: Exercise Set + Quiz (10%, 10%)

Ø Topic V: Short assignment (20%)

Ø Topic VI: Paper (20%)

Ø Attendance and participation in class, and reading before class. How well you keep up with attendance, participation, and reading assignments can raise or lower your overall grade. We reserve the right to give pop reading quizzes in section to check if you are keeping up with reading assignments.

Procedures:

Ø Work is graded A (=4), A/B (=3.5), B (=3), B/C (2.5), C (=2), D (=1), F (=0).

Ø The final grade is determined by the GPA over the semester, and will use the plus/minus system.

Ø Papers will go down one grade level for each day or part thereof late.

Ø While students are encouraged to discuss the material, and even the problems, all submitted work must be your own. The university has strict sanctions for plagiarism: it is your responsibility to understand these issues. Academic dishonesty will be pursued to the full extent of the law: No second chances will be given. If you have any questions about the university’s policy, see pages 11-12 of the 2002 Undergraduate Catalog.

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

Ø The sale of class notes and tapes is NOT permitted.

Ø Religious Preference Absence Policy (Students who anticipate the necessity of being absent from class due to the observation of a major religious observance must provide advance notice of the date(s) to the instructor, in writing.)