Postgraduate Course: Philosophy of Science (Online) (PHIL11133)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course aims to introduce you to a number of perennially-interesting and enduringly relevant issues from the philosophy of science. No previous scientific, philosophical or logical expertise is required and any technical / unfamiliar terms will be defined as we go.
Please note auditing is not allowed on this course. Students must only take for credit. |
| Course description |
Some of the key questions will include:
* What is the problem of induction, chiefly associated with Hume?
* What is Popper's falsificationism all about?
* What is scientific explanation?
* What good are scientific models?
* What is scientific measurement?
* What is Bayes' Theorem and what can it tell us about the confirmation of theories?
* What are scientific realism and scientific anti-realism? What arguments can be made for or against realist and anti-realist views of science?
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2021/22, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
| Course Start Date |
17/01/2022 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Lecture Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Assessment Methods
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Students will be assessed by a 3000 word essay (85%) and successful participation in on-line activities associated with the course (15%). How the participation component will be assessed will be made clear to the students at the start of the course. |
| Feedback |
Students have the opportunity to submit a formative essay. The essay cannot be draft of the summative essay but it can be on the same topic. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- grasp fundamental issues in the philosophy of philosophy of science
- critically analyse and engage with literature by key philosophers in this field.
- understand how empirical and scientific work can support philosophical arguments, and be able to use data derived therefrom in their essays and arguments.
- present arguments clearly and concisely both within a classroom context and in a 3000 word essay.
- gain transferable skills in research, analysis and argumentation
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Reading List
Readings for lectures and online tutorials will be available in LEARN.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students can develop their ability for independent learning through online resources. |
| Keywords | philosophy of science,epistemology |
Contacts
| Course organiser | |
Course secretary | Miss Sabina Ali
Tel: (0131 6) 50 4400
Email: Sabina.Ali@ed.ac.uk |
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