Undergraduate Course: Advanced Topics in Philosophy of Science (PHIL10050)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | Philosophy |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
http://www.philosophy.ed.ac.uk |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | The course, consisting of lectures and seminars, will be structured around three core topics in contemporary philosophy of science. Natural kinds, causation, and laws of nature are deeply interconnected metaphysical notions. Are there natural kinds carving nature at its joints? Is causation an objective feature of nature? And, to what extent do our laws of nature express causal dispositions, and are read off from natural kinds? In the first part of this course, we focus on natural kinds, and a series of epistemological, metaphysical and semantic issues surrounding them. In the second part, we turn to causation with an emphasis on causal republicanism, causal realism, Humeanism and causal perspectivalism. Finally, in part three, we explore laws of nature with a focus on dispositional essentialism, non-governing conception of laws, and lawlessness. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 Philosophy courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
| By the end of this course, students will have acquired good knowledge of the contemporary debate surrounding these three core areas in contemporary philosophy of science. They will also have improved their critical skills via essay writing and via informal discussions and oral presentations in the seminars. |
Assessment Information
One midterm essay of 1,500 words (worth 30%);
Weekly participation and coursework worth 10%;
One 2,500-word end-of-term essay (worth 60%) |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Michela Massimi
Tel: (0131 6)50 3662
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Susan Richards
Tel: (0131 6)51 3733
Email: |
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