Philosophy of Science 1
Tutorial topics
Note that this page gives required reading for the tutorial topics. Be sure to check the course website and course guide for supplementary reading.
(1) The deductive-nomological (D-N) account of explanation
Aim:
(1) To understand what the D-N account of explanation is and what form a D-N explanation takes.
(2) To understand how this account can be criticized by means of counterexamples, and what forms those counterexamples take.
(3) To see how the counterexamples to the claim that a D-N form is sufficient for explanation suggest that something important might be missing from the account - namely that, often, when we explain an event what we do is cite its cause.
Reading:
(1) C Hempel Two basic types of scientific explanation, in Curd & Cover (ed) The Philosophy of Science pp685-694
(2) D. Ruben, Arguments, Laws and Explanation, in Curd & Cover (ed) The Philosophy of Science pp720-745
(2) Problems of induction
Aim:
(1) To understand what Hume's problem of induction is, and how it raises problems for the idea that theories or hypotheses are confirmed by observations.
(2) To understand what Goodman's 'new riddle of induction' is, and how it raises problems for the idea that theories or hypotheses are confirmed by observations..
(3) To discuss some initial ideas about how these problems might be solved.
Reading:
(1) James Ladyman, Understanding Philosophy of Science, ch2
(2) Karl Popper, The problem of induction, in Curd & Cover (ed) The Philosophy of Science pp426-432
(3) Peter Lipton, Induction, in Curd & Cover (ed) The Philosophy of Science pp412-425
Other information:
(3) Popper's falsificationism
Aim:
(1) To understand the motivation for Popper's development of falsificationism.
(2) To understand how, according to Popper, scientific endeavour ought to progress.
(3) To understand how falsificationism relies on deduction rather than induction.
(4) To understand some of the problems with falsificationism, and how some of these have their source in Popper's rejection of induction.
Reading:
(1) Karl Popper Science: Conjectures and Refutations, in Curd & Cover (ed) The Philosophy of Science pp 3-10
(2) W. H. Newton-Smith The rationality of science, chapter 3 (pp 44-76)
Worksheet:
(4) Bayesianism
Aim:
(1) To understand what Bayes' Theorem is, and how it works in straightforward cases of probability.
(2) To understand how, according to some thinkers, Bayes' Theorem can be used to show how theories or hypotheses are/can be confirmed by evidence.
(3) To understand some of the problems facing this application of Bayes' Theorem to theory confirmation.
Reading:
(1) David Chalmers What is this thing called science?, Ch 12 'The Bayesian Approach'
(2) W. Salmon Rationality and objectivity in science Or Tom Kuhn meets Tom Bayes, in Curd & Cover The Philosophy of Science pp551-583
(3) C. GlymourSalmon Why I am not a Bayesian, in Curd & Cover The Philosophy of Science pp584-606
Worksheet:
(5) Anti-realism and constructive empiricism
Aim:
(1) To understand how various realist and anti-realist positions relate to one another, and what the key differences between them are.
Reading:
TBA
Other information:
Realism survey: A survey of scientists carried out for PhysicsWeb about what entities and properties they think are real.
(6) Laws of nature and natural kinds
Aim:
(1) To understand what is meant by 'laws of nature', and some of the problems we face when explaining exactly what they are.
(2) To understand the difference between realism and nominalism about natural kinds, and what the arguments for these two positions are.
(3) To understand the connection between the concepts 'law of nature' and 'natural kind'.
Reading:
TBA
(7) Kuhn and the rationality of science
Aim:
(1) To understand Kuhn's account of the nature of science, and how it is distinct from 'rationalist' accounts.
Reading:
TBA
(8) Natural selection or intelligent design
Aim:
(1) To put into practice some of the theories and ideas from this course in the context of a real life issue.
Reading:
A sceptic's guide to intelligent design, New Scientist July 2005 pp10-12. (NB If you are not logged into the New Scientist site, the link will take you to an article preview - to view the full article, using a computer connected to the University network, click the "Enter" button in the box headed "Institutional IP Login")
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