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. |
| Course description |
Philosophy enables the critical assessment of the assumptions and methods of science. We will consider key questions like the following:
- What is the problem of induction, chiefly associated with Hume?
- What is Popper's falsificationism all about?
- What is scientific explanation?
- What is scientific measurement? Which accounts of measurement are best?
- How should we conceive of probability? 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 2026/27, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
| Course Start Date |
11/01/2027 |
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 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
3000-word Summative Essay (100%) |
| Feedback |
Students have the opportunity to submit a formative essay. |
| 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
Indicative course texts:
- van Fraassen, B., 1980. The Scientific Image. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
- Psillos, S., 1999. Scientific Realism. Routledge.
- Hempel, C.G., 2013. Two basic types of scientific explanation. In M. Curd, J.A. Cover and C. Pincock (Eds.), Philosophy of Science: The Central Issues. W.W. Norton
- Godfrey-Smith, P. 1998. Functions: Consensus without unity. Pacific Philosophical Quarterly 74: 196¿208
- Morrison, M., 2009. Models, measurement and computer simulation: The changing face of experimentation. Philosophical Studies, 143(1): 33-57
- Popper, K., 2002. Conjectures and Refutations: The Growth of Scientific Knowledge. London: Routledge."
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Critical thinking: Developing independent thought through questioning norms, practices and opinions; seeking relevant and appropriate evidence and understanding biases determining the significance of what is being expressed; seeing wider themes and patterns in information
Curiosity: A desire to learn or discover, and to inspire or create new ideas and concepts; to continuously explore and learn from challenging experiences; to ask searching questions and adopt different perspectives ¿ Harness opportunities and take initiative
Problem solving: Imagining alternative ways of addressing problem; synthesising information and translating into knowledge within different contexts; facilitating and co-producing solutions; considering complex systems with contradictions and uncertainties |
| Keywords | philosophy of science,epistemology |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Eli Lichtenstein
Tel:
Email: Eli.Lichtenstein@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Olivia Coltman
Tel:
Email: ocoltman@ed.ac.uk |
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