Undergraduate Course: Advanced Topics in Philosophy of Science (PHIL10050)
Course Outline
School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
Summary | The course, consisting of lectures and seminars, will be structured around three core topics in contemporary philosophy of science: natural kinds, causation, and laws. For each theme, we explore epistemological, metaphysical and semantic issues. |
Course description |
The course, consisting of lectures and seminars, will be structured around three core topics in contemporary philosophy of science. Natural kinds, causation, and laws of nature are deeply interconnected metaphysical notions. Are there natural kinds carving nature at its joints? Is causation an objective feature of nature? And, to what extent do our laws of nature express causal dispositions, and are read off from natural kinds? In the first part of this course, we focus on natural kinds. In the second part, we turn to causation and in part three, we explore laws of nature. For each theme, we explore a series of epistemological, metaphysical and semantic issues surrounding it.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites |
It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed
Philosophy of Science 1 (PHIL08005)
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Co-requisites | |
Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 Philosophy courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. |
High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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Academic year 2016/17, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 24 |
Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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Additional Information (Assessment) |
One midterm essay of 1,500 words (worth 30%);
Weekly participation and coursework worth 10%;
One 2,500-word end-of-term essay (worth 60%) |
Feedback |
Not entered |
No Exam Information |
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Academic year 2016/17, Part-year visiting students only (VV1)
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Quota: 5 |
Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
|
Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
Additional Information (Assessment) |
One midterm essay of 1,500 words (worth 30%);
Weekly participation and coursework worth 10%;
One 2,500-word end-of-term essay (worth 60%) |
Feedback |
Not entered |
No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will have acquired good knowledge of the contemporary debate surrounding these three core areas in contemporary philosophy of science. They will also have improved their critical skills via essay writing and via informal discussions and oral presentations in the seminars.
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Contacts
Course organiser | Dr Michela Massimi
Tel: (0131 6)50 3662
Email: Michela.Massimi@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Samantha Bell
Tel: (0131 6)50 3602
Email: sam.bell@ed.ac.uk |
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© Copyright 2016 The University of Edinburgh - 3 February 2017 5:02 am
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