Undergraduate Course: The New Scientific Revolution: Simulation, Datafication, Digitisation (PHIL10246)
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 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course explores philosophical questions around three intersecting developments in contemporary science: the extensive use of computer simulations, the increasingly data driven nature of scientific research, and the practice of digitisation natural and cultural heritage. |
| Course description |
This course explores philosophical questions about three intersecting developments in contemporary science: the extensive use of computer simulations, the increasingly data driven nature of scientific research, and the practice of digitisation natural and cultural heritage for conservation and data sharing purposes. The overall question of the course is: What do we gain, and what might we lose, when we move from the empirical and material study of the world, to virtual and digital ways of investigation?
Some of the particular philosophical issues we'll discuss include: Are experiments epistemically superior to computer simulations? Does the use of machine learning introduce problematic epistemic opacity into the research process? What are 'data' and how does data-centric science differ from other ways of doing science? Can digitisation help overcome problems with the colonial heritage of museum collections?
Students will be introduced to concepts and arguments from two areas of philosophy--philosophy of science and philosophy of technology--and learn toapply these to address the issues set out above.
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Knowledge and Reality (PHIL08017) AND
Mind, Matter and Language (PHIL08014)
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Please note: Students studying on MA Cognitive Science (Humanities) are permitted to take this course without having met the pre-requisites of Mind, Matter and Language and Knowledge and Reality. However, it is advisable that students discuss the suitability of the course with their Student Adviser and the course organiser before enrolling. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have completed at least 3 Philosophy courses at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses. Applicants should note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission. These enrolments are managed strictly by the Visiting Student Office, in line with the quotas allocated by the department, and all enquiries to enrol in these courses must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. It is not appropriate for students to contact the department directly to request additional spaces. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 0 |
| 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) |
Class Presentation 25%
Essay 75% - 2500 words
|
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Ready to identify challenges and opportunities arising from the use of new technologies in scientific knowledge production
- Critically evaluate existing literature from a philosophy of science perspective
- Present existing research succinctly and critically to peers
- Analyse existing arguments and formulate new arguments
- Integrate relevant literature from outside of philosophy into philosophical debates
|
Reading List
Parker, Wendy S. 2008. "Does Matter Really Matter? Computer Simulations, Experiments, and Materiality". Synthese 169 (3): 483¿96.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-008-9434-3.
Leonelli, Sabina. 2016. Data-Centric Biology: A Philosophical Study. University of Chicago Press.
Lenhard, Johannes. 2019. Calculated Surprises: A Philosophy of Computer Simulation. USA: Oxford University Press.
Popov, Danail, Priyanka Roychoudhury, Helen Hardy, Laurence Livermore, and Ken Norris. 2021. "The Value of Digitising Natural History Collections." Research Ideas and Outcome Journal, no. 3 (December).https://doi.org/10.3897/rio.7.e78844. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Attributes:
Reflective and critical thinkers; skilled communicators; ready to engage contemporary technological opportunities and challenges.
Core skills gained or developed on this course:
Challenging own perspectives and assumptions; Critical analysis and evaluation; Formulating original arguments and justifying it; Academic reading skills; Research skills; Resilience; Self-reflection; Time management; Understanding broader perspectives; Written communication; Writing clearly and concisely; Oral communication (discussion, debating respectfully, influencing); Preparation, planning and organisation; Understanding the role of philosophy in the pursuit of knowledge and understanding; applying philosophy to questions in the sciences. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jo Wolff
Tel: (0131 6)50 3649
Email: jo.wolff@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Joan MacKenzie
Tel:
Email: jmacken8@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage