Knowledge and History: Theories of Scientific Change

Module title	Knowledge and History: Theories of Scientific Change
Module code	PHL3100
Academic year	2021/2
Credits	15
Module staff	(Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks		11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	30

Module description

Epistemology, the philosophical theory of knowledge and how it is acquired. This module will introduce you to some major trends of twentieth-century epistemology. Rapid progress in the sciences has confronted epistemology with a fundamental problem: How can it accommodate its traditional task of describing conditions for acquiring 'true' knowledge while the sciences continually progress? The module will acquaint you with some prominent answers to this problem (positivism, sociology of knowledge, historical epistemology). It will present a perspective on epistemology that overcomes the existing divides between analytical and continental philosophy. You will require basic skills in the formal analysis of arguments as learned at a previous level to succeed in this module. It will build on knowledge from PHL1005A ‘Evidence and Argument’ the pre-requisite to this module. The module is suitable for philosophy students with an interest in the philosophy of science, but will also appeal to students from other disciplines with an interest in the social and cultural history of science.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module will introduce you to some major trends in twentieth-century epistemology. Rapid progress in the sciences has confronted epistemology with a fundamental problem: How can it accommodate its traditional task of describing conditions for acquiring true knowledge with the fact that modern science is progressing by continuously subverting knowledge once held to be true? The course will acquaint you with some prominent answers to this problem (positivism, sociology of knowledge, historical epistemology). It will present a perspective on epistemology that overcomes the existing divides between analytical and continental philosophy.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. Possess a thorough knowledge of the main positions in twentieth-century epistemology with regard to the problem of induction, the nature of experiment, and the notion of scientific progress.
2. Critically evaluate these positions and to understand and analyse the arguments that have been raised for and against them

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

3. Interpret, analyse, and discuss difficult philosophical texts.
4. Learn to deal with historical, cultural and disciplinary differences in philosophical style and develop an awareness of the dynamics of scientific knowledge production.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

5. Construct, express, present and discuss ideas and arguments, both of your own and of others, according to academic standards. This will include the ability to criticize received wisdom as well as the ability to avoid rash conclusions.

Syllabus plan

Introduction: Scientific Progress and Truth

The Scientific Revolution I: Galileo
The Scientific Revolution II: Hobbes vs. Boyle
Logical Atomism, Verificationism, and Falsificationism
Methodology of Scientific Research Programs
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
Sociology of Science: The Strong Programme
Genesis of a Scientific Fact
Historical Epistemology
The New Pragmatism
Summary and Conclusion

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity	22	Weekly two-hour seminars, introduced by a 45 min. lecture from the lecturer. Each seminar will focus on a classical book. It will include 20-30 min. group presentations (depending on number of students in the group) on these books, followed by in-depth discussions of the concepts and arguments employed. A section from the book will be selected as required reading for all seminar participants
Guided independent study	128	A variety of private study activities guided by your module leader

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay plan	500 words	1-5	Verbal

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
70	0	30

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Group presentation	30	10 minutes	3,5	Verbal
Essay	70	2,500 words	1, 2, 3, 4, 5	Written
	0
	0
	0
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Presentation	Essay	3, 5	August/September reassessment period
Essay	Essay (2,500 words)	1, 2, 3, 4, 5	August/September reassessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

C. G. Hempel, The Philosophy of Natural Sciences, Prentice Hall 1966.
S. Shapin, The Scientific Revolution, Chicago University Press 1998.
H.-J. Rheinberger, On Historisizing Epistemology, Stanford University Press 2010.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Lecture notes and reading lists are made available through ELE
A good online source in general for background reading in philosophy is the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy at http://plato.stanford.edu/.

Key words search

Philosophy of Science, History of Science, Scientific Progress, Positivism, Sociology of Knowledge, Historical Epistemology, Postmodernism

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	PHL1005A
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	6
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	01/10/2005
Last revision date	14/02/2012