PHIL 3340 - Philosophy Of Science

Institution:

Saint Edward's University

Subject:

Description:

This course will introduce students to basic themes in the philosophy of science. Topics to be covered include, but are not limited to: 1) Aristotle's philosophy of science; 2) the medieval refinement and critique of Aristotle's philosophy of science; 3) the competitive interplay of the Scholastic, mechanistic and Newtonian philosophies of science during the scientific revolution; 4) the philosophical debates during the Darwinian revolution among competing accounts of everything from empirical data and axiology to theology; 5) the nature of scientific change (with particular emphasis on Thomas Kuhn's work); 6) scientific explanation (with attention given to covering law models, pragmatism and agent causation); 7) scientific confirmation and the problem of induction (with special attention paid to Hume's famous critique of induction and subsequent responses to his challenge); and 8) the realism/anti-realism debate (emphasizing inter alia van Fraassen's constructive empiricism and Churchland's realist critique.)

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.stedwards.edu

Phone Number:

(512) 448-8400

Regional Accreditation:

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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