Undergraduate Course: Philosophy of Science 1 (PHIL08005)
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 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This 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.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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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 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
70 %,
Coursework
30 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Midterm Essay (30%)
Final Exam (70%)
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
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| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate characteristically philosophical ways of thinking.
- Express philosophical ideas and arguments, especially those characteristic of philosophy of science.
- Critically assess scientific claims from a philosophical standpoint.
- Articulate the key issues in debates about the philosophical status of scientific practice and the empirical relationship between scientific theories and the world.
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Additional Information
| Course URL |
https://www.ed.ac.uk/ppls/philosophy/current/undergraduate/handbooks |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course aims to introduce the philosophy of science and the many questions that surround it. Students will have their beliefs challenged as they question what science is, and they will need to adapt and be open to questioning the status quo and looking for alternative interpretations. They will learn how to engage with scientific literature, deconstruct complex ideas and critically analyse its validity. In the tutorials they will learn how to discuss and debate respectfully. The assessments will develop their writing skills - they will learn how to be concise, write academically and how to articulate their point of view.
Core skills gained on this course:
Critical analysis, challenging personal perspectives and assumptions, confidence engaging with scientific literature, deconstructing complex ideas, not taking arguments at face value - considering alternate interpretations, debating respectfully, public speaking, writing concisely, writing academically, time management. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Lecturers:
Dr Lavelle
Dr Chirimuuta
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| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Suilin Lavelle
Tel: (0131 6)50 3665
Email: J.S.Lavelle@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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