? Credit Points : 20  ? SCQF Level : 10  ? Acronym : PPL-3-POSCI-PH

This course comprises seminars on current issues in the philosophy of biology and the philosophy of quantum mechanics. The philosophy of biology seminars cover issues in the nature of evolutionary explanation, the units of selection, species and natural kinds, function and teleology in biology. The quantum mechanics seminars discuss the problems of interpreting of QM. Quantum mechanics is instrumentally very successful but when one tries to interpret it realistically it seems to contradict much of our common-sense view of the world.

? Pre-requisites : Philosophy 2A (PP0033) or Philosophy 2B (PP0034)

? This course has variants for part year visiting students, as follows

• Philosophy of Science (VS1) (Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2))

Home subject area

Philosophy, (School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences, Schedule I)

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 12 weeks

First Class Information

Date Start End Room Area Additional Information 10/01/2006 16:10 18:00 Room 6.11, David Hume Tower Central

All of the following classes

Type Day Start End Area Lecture Tuesday 16:10 18:00 Central

Assessment will be by 2-hour examination in the June diet. Senior Honours students may opt to write a long essay (approximately 6000 words) in lieu of the final exam.

Exam times

Diet Diet Month Paper Code Paper Name Length 1ST May 1 - 2 hour(s) 2ND August 1 - 2 hour(s)

The Course Secretary should be the first point of contact for all enquiries.

Course Secretary

Mrs Moira Avraam
Tel : (0131 6)50 3661
Email : Moira.Avraam@ed.ac.uk

Course Organiser

Dr Peter Milne
Tel : (0131 6)50 3663
Email : Peter.Milne@ed.ac.uk

Course Website : http://www.philosophy.ed.ac.uk

School Website : http://www.ppls.ed.ac.uk/

College Website : http://www.hss.ed.ac.uk/