THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences : Philosophy

Undergraduate Course: Philosophy of Science 1 (PHIL08005)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course introduces students to major topics in philosophy of science, aiming to address the central question: "What makes science special?" No background in either philosophy or science will be assumed.
Course description The course is organized around philosophical concepts and debates that arise in the attempt to identify, justify, and explain the distinctive features of scientific practice, including:

- the nature of scientific explanation
- laws of nature
- the realism vs. antirealism debate
- the structure and justification of inductive reasoning
- modeling vs. experimentation
- effects of gender and race bias in science
- unity or disunity of scientific disciplines

Along the way, we will also survey key issues that arise in the philosophical study of particular sciences, such as astronomy, physics, biology, economics, and climate science.

Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2020/21, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  0
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 33, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 11, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 152 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) The course will be assessed by a Mid-Term Essay (25%), Short Assignments (5%), and a Final Assignment (70%).

The resit will occur during the April/May diet.
Feedback Not entered
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate characteristically philosophical ways of thinking.
  2. Express philosophical ideas and arguments, especially those characteristic of philosophy of science.
  3. Critically assess scientific claims from a philosophical standpoint.
  4. Articulate the key issues in debates about the philosophical status of scientific practice and the empirical relationship between scientific theories and the world.
Reading List
None
Additional Information
Course URL https://www.ed.ac.uk/ppls/philosophy/current/undergraduate/handbooks
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Alistair Isaac
Tel: (0131 6)51 5174
Email: A.M.C.Isaac@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Vera Spiliotakou
Tel: (0131 6)50 3628
Email: Vera.Spiliotakou@ed.ac.uk
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