Philosophy of Science
| Module title | Philosophy of Science |
|---|---|
| Module code | SOCM945 |
| Academic year | 2021/2 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Adam Toon (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 5 |
|---|
Module description
To provide a thorough and rigorous discussion of the main issues in contemporary philosophy of science.
To foster techniques of analytical and critical inquiry.
Module aims - intentions of the module
To provide a thorough and rigorous discussion of the main issues in contemporary philosophy of science.
To foster techniques of analytical and critical inquiry.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the main realist and anti-realist arguments on the epistemological status of scientific theories;
- 2. alternative accounts of the nature of scientific theories;
- 3. the problem of continuity vs. revolutionary change in the history of science,
- 4. and its philosophical consequences; the main philosophical theories of confirmation and induction;
- 5. the role of laboratory experimentation in the production of scientific knowledge.
- 6. Locate all these issues in the wider debate on philosophical theories of knowledge.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Demonstrate detailed awareness of the methods used by natural and social scientists, and their philosophical 'explication'/justification by philosophers of science.
- 8. Criticise and evaluate philosophical theories of knowledge-production from a purely logical viewpoint
- 9. Use empirical and historical case-studies to enrich and criticise philosophical theories.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 10. Construct and evaluate ideas.
- 11. Formulate and express ideas at different levels of abstraction.
- 12. Assess and criticise the views of others.
Syllabus plan
- Introduction
- Popper
- Kuhn
- The Sociology of Scientific Knowledge
- Social epistemology
- Science and values
- Theories and models
- Scientific representation
- Understanding
- Experiment
- Practice
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 278 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | 22 | 11 x 2 hour seminars |
| Guided independent study | 278 | Independent study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seminar presentations | Throughout term | 1-12 | Verbal feedback |
| Compulsory readings | Throughout term | 1-12 | N/A |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | 50 | 5,000 words | 1-12 | Written feedback |
| Essay 2 | 50 | 5,000 words | 1-12 | Written feedback |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | Essay 1 (5,000 words) | 1-12 | Next reassessment period |
| Essay 2 | Essay 2 (5,000 words) | 1-12 | Next reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Barnes, B., Bloor, D., & Henry, J. (1996) Scientific Knowledge: A Sociological Analysis. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Cartwright, N. (1983) How the Laws of Physics Lie. Oxford: Clarendon.
Curd, M., Cover, J.A. and Pincock (Eds.) (2012) Philosophy of Science: The Central Issues. New York: Norton.
Godfrey-Smith, P. (2003) Theory and Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science, Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Goodman, N. (1954) Fact, Fiction, and Forecast. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Kuhn, T. (1970) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Chicago: Chicago University Press.
Latour, B. (1987) Science in Action: How to Follow Scientists and Engineers through Society. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Lipton, P. (1991) Inference to the Best Explanation. New York: Routledge.
Okasha, S. (2002) Philosophy of Science: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford: OUP.
Popper, K. (1959) The Logic of Scientific Discovery. London: Routledge.
Psillos, S. (1999) Scientific Realism: How Science Tracks Truth. London: Routledge.
Van Frassen, B. (1980) The Scientific Image. Oxford: Clarendon.
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/10/2008 |
| Last revision date | 16/10/2012 |
