Faculty of Science

 History and Philosophy of Science

Table of Contents

Science studies Nature: HPS studies Science.

The Department of History and Philosophy of Science studies science by asking such questions as:

• If science tells the truth, why do scientists sometimes say one thing (for example, dinosaurs were cold-blooded) and then later say the opposite (dinosaurs were warm-blooded)?

• What determines which diseases are given priority in medical research?

• Can science usefully work with Aboriginal beliefs about nature to better conserve the environment?

• Is it really true that people in medieval Europe believed the earth was flat?

• When science and religion disagree, which should we believe?

• How many scientific theories have been biased against women, religious, or racial minorities?

• Are science students well trained to think for themselves or are they just trained to apply the current popular scientific theories?

• How much influence in society should scientists have?

 1. Suggested subjects

Not all History and Philosophy of Science subjects receive science credit. The tables below list the History and Philosophy of Science subjects for which science credit will be awarded. If a student elects to complete a History and Philosophy of Science subject that does not appear in these tables, non-science credit will be awarded towards the Bachelor of Science degree.

Note that:

• Students enrolled in a combined Bachelor of Science course are not entitled to count non-science points towards the Bachelor of Science component.

• History and Philosophy of Science subjects count toward the Arts component of both the Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science combined course and the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences course.

Science students are not able to major in History and Philosophy of Science, but can do a co-major in the discipline, provided that they also complete an approved science major, as detailed in Majors.

History and Philosophy of Science subjects can be included within the non-science allowance of 62.5 points.

 1.1. 100-level subjects

All 100-level subjects are available to science students without prerequisites.

 Table 28: History and Philosophy of Science subjects offered for science credit at the 100-level

Careful attention should be paid to the level and number of science credit points that will be awarded for the completion of these subjects.1 Subject code and title Science credit points Level at which science credit awarded 136-028 History of Astronomy   12.5   100-level   136-030 Social Change, Science & New Technology   12.5   100-level   136-031 Science, Philosophy and History   12.5   100-level   136-032 The Ecological History of Humankind   12.5   100-level

 1.2. 200-level subjects

Students are generally required to have completed at least 62.5 points at the 100-level before enrolling in 200-level subjects. Completion of 100-level HPS is not required.

 Table 29: History and Philosophy of Science subjects offered for science credit at the 200-level

Careful attention should be paid to the level and amount of science credit points that will be awarded for the completion of these subjects.2 Subject code and title Science credit points Level at which science credit awarded 136-029 Darwinism   12.5   200-level   136-033 Science, Reason and Reality   12.5   200-level   136-034 Science, Life and Mind   12.5   200-level   136-035 A History of Nature   12.5   200-level   136-036 Philosophy of Science   12.5   200-level   136-037 Issues in the Modern Life Sciences   12.5   200-level   136-038 The Scientific Revolution   12.5   200-level   136-040 Science Technology and Society   12.5   200-level   136-042 Science in Australian Society   12.5   200-level   136-043 Modern Scientific Controversy   12.5   200-level   136-044 Current Issues in HPS   12.5   200-level

 1.3. 300-level subjects

Students doing a co-major or honours in HPS should select at least one 300-level subject from 136-052, 136-054, 136-055 [note that these subjects do have prerequisites].

 Table 30: History and Philosophy of Science subjects offered for science credit at the 300-level

Careful attention should be paid to the level and amount of science credit points that will be awarded for the completion of these subjects.3 Subject Code and Title Science credit points Level at which science credit awarded 136-329 Darwinism (Science 3)   12.5   300-level   136-333 Science, Reason and Reality (Science 3)   12.5   300-level   136-334 Science, Life & Mind (Science 3)   12.5   300-level   136-335 A History of Nature (Science 3)   12.5   300-level   136-336 Philosophy of Science (Science 3)   12.5   300-level   136-337 Biotechnology in Modern Society (Sci.3)   12.5   300-level   136-338 The Scientific Revolution (Science 3)   12.5   300-level   136-340 Science Technology & Society (Science 3)   12.5   300-level   136-342 Science in Australia (Science 3)   12.5   300-level   136-343 Scientific Controversy (Science 3)   12.5   300-level   136-344 Current Issues in HPS (Science 3)   12.5   300-level   136-052 Science as Practice and Culture   12.5   300-level   136-054 Controversies in Philosophy of Science   12.5   300-level   136-055 Approaches to the History of Science   12.5   300-level   136-062 Directed Study   12.5   300-level

 2. Bachelor of Science (Honours)

For information about the Faculty and departmental entry requirements for Honours, please refer to Bachelor of Science (Honours) and Bachelor of Information Systems (Honours). These requirements should be considered when planning your course.

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