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 136-348 Realism, Relativism and Naturalism

Note

Formerly available as 136-510/638. Students who have completed 136-510/638 are not eligible to enrol in this subject. This subject is also available for postgraduate coursework enrolments. It is expected that this subject will be available in 2001.

Credit Points

12.5

HECS Band

1

Coordinator

Dr Howard Sankey

Semester

Not Offered (view timetable)

Subject Description

In this subject students will examine the current trend toward naturalistic approaches to methodological, epistemological and metaphysical issues in modern philosophy of science. Much recent philosophy of science has been characterised by an opposition between realist advocates of the objectivity of science and a variety of cognitive relativist positions which deny such objectivity. However a separate, naturalistic tendency in the philosophy of science promises to transcend the opposition between realism and relativism. On completion of this subject students should have a grasp of the history and differences of realist and relativist approaches to the philosophy of science and should understand the implications of the naturalistic approach for the former.



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Status:                   Official 2000
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Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au