136-220/320 Philosophy of Science

Credit Points:

When taken from History and Philosophy of Science, Faculty of Arts:

16.7 2nd and 3rd year

When taken from History and Philosophy of Science, Faculty of Science:

12.5

Coordinator:

Prerequisite/s:

Timetable:

Contact:

Objectives:

Students completing this subject should:

• acquire an understanding of such philosophical/scientific issues as 'what is the nature of space and time'; can biology be 'reduced' to physics?', or 'do good scientists sometimes ignore scientific evidence?';

• acquire an understanding of how method and theories in the sciences have changed over the centuries;

• gain a background in the philosophy and history of science on which to base further study in the area.

Content:

This subject will explore the history and logic of such major scientific theories as Newtonian mechanics or evolution. It will critically examine both scientists' actual behaviour and philosophical accounts of how science should be done. In 1996 the subject will focus on Space, Time and Cosmology.

Assessment: