Phil 265

Phil 265: Philosophy of Science.
Instructor: Danielle Brown

Course Description:

Just what is science? What makes an explanation 'scientific'? What is the relationship between theory and evidence? Is science progressive? What distinguishes science from pseudoscience? What social factors come to bear on science? What differences are there between the 'natural' and 'social' sciences? In this course, we will define key concepts in philosophy of science, such as falsification, underdetermination, holism, and induction. You will learn to apply concepts and principles to distinguish scientific explanations from non-scientific explanations. Using both contemporary and historical examples, we will examine the development of various scientific methods and theories, as well as the main views regarding the relationship of scientific theories to reality, such as realism, anti-realism, and structuralism. We will also examine the debate regarding the role of social values in shaping scientific research and theory.