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 136-034 Science, Life and Mind

Note

Formerly available as 136-203/303. Students who have completed 136-203/303 Science, Life and Mind are not eligible to enrol in this subject. To receive third year Science credit, a student should enrol in 136-334 Scientific Rationality (Science).

Availability

2nd and 3rd year

Credit Points

12.5

Coordinator

Neil Thomason

Prerequisites

Normally 12.5 points of first year HPS, see Prerequisites

Semester

1 (view timetable)

Contact

Between 10 and 12 weekly tutorials and between 20 and 24 lectures, normally two per week

Subject Description

Science depends on people being able rationally to investigate reality. Recent advances in cognitive psychology and evolutionary theory enable us to better understand how human rationality is possible and thus how science is possible. This class deals with such historical and philosophical questions as: How do scientists determine the standard for good reasoning? What are those standards? How accurate are their judgements? How can one tell when the scientific community is acting less than fully rationally?

Assessment

Written work totally 4000 words.



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Status:                   Official 1999
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Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au