Undergraduate Course: Philosophy of Science 1 (PHIL08005)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course introduces students to major topics in philosophy of science, aiming to address the central question: "What makes science special?" No background in either philosophy or science will be assumed. |
| Course description |
The course is organized around philosophical concepts and debates that arise in the attempt to identify, justify, and explain the distinctive features of scientific practice, including:
- the nature of scientific explanation
- laws of nature
- the realism vs. antirealism debate
- the structure and justification of inductive reasoning
- modeling vs. experimentation
- effects of gender and race bias in science
- unity or disunity of scientific disciplines
Along the way, we will also survey key issues that arise in the philosophical study of particular sciences, such as astronomy, physics, biology, economics, and climate science.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate characteristically philosophical ways of thinking.
- Express philosophical ideas and arguments, especially those characteristic of philosophy of science.
- Critically assess scientific claims from a philosophical standpoint.
- Articulate the key issues in debates about the philosophical status of scientific practice and the empirical relationship between scientific theories and the world.
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Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Alistair Isaac
Tel: (0131 6)51 5174
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Veronica Vivi
Tel:
Email: |
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