136-536 Realism, Relativism and Naturalism

Formerly available as 136-510, 136-638, 136-348 and 136-048. Students who have completed 136-510, 136-638, 136-348 or 136-048 are not eligible to enrol in this subject.

Usually admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours or a postgraduate coursework program.

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 of and differences between realist and relativist approaches to the philosophy of science and should understand the implications of the naturalistic approach.

• have experience of thinking systematically about difficult problems of an abstract nature;

• have practice conducting research, speaking articulately, writing clearly and reading with attention to detail.

A 5000 word research essay 100% (due at the end of semester).

A subject reader will be available for purchase from the University Bookshop.