| CODE | PHI3023 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Philosophy of Science | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Philosophy | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit deals with the questions spawned by movements from logical positivism to the historical turn of the 60s right up to contemporary philosophy of science. Questions such as: ‘What makes a theory scientific?’ ‘How and what does science explain?’ ‘How do abstract scientific theories relate to the everyday world?’ ‘What is special about the experimental method?’ are just some of the question we will discuss in the study-unit. Study-unit Aims: - The study-unit aims to introduce participants to some of the main problems and issues in the philosophy of science. - It also aims to get participants to appreciate how philosophy of science fits in to the wider concerns of philosophy. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe most of the core debates in the philosophy of science; - Appreciate the relevance of the history of science to the philosophy of science; - Reflect philosophically on technology and its effects on society equipped with a philosophically mature understanding of science. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Look philosophically at science and scientific practice. - Engage in the critical debates on issues in philosophy of science; - Think critically and analytically and write a better philosophical essay. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Curd, M., & Cover, J. A. (1998). Philosophy of science: The central issues. WW Norton. - McGrew, Timothy, Marc Alspector-Kelly, and Fritz Allhoff, eds. Philosophy of science: An historical anthology. Wiley. com, 2009. - Rosenberg, A. (2005). The philosophy of science: a contemporary introduction. Psychology Press. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Seminar | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Anne Marie Vincenti |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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