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Philosophy 352: Philosophy of Science
Dr. Jacquelyn Ann Kegley
Office: Faculty Towers 103-D 664-2249/2291 Fax: 665-6904
E-mail: jkegley@csub.edu (I do not accept any assigned work by e-mail)
Website: http://www.csubak.edu/~jkegley
Office Hours: Mon. & Wed- 4-5:30p.m.; Tues. 2-3 and by appointment.
Required Text
E.D. Klemke, Robert Hollinger, David W. Rudge, A. David Kline,
Editors, Introductory Readings in the Philosophy of Science.
(1998: Prometheus Books)
Course Description
The course will critically examine the underpinnings of scientific
knowledge through an analysis and evaluation of various scientific
concepts such as “scientific laws,” “explanation,” “observation,”
and “theory.” It will seek to provide an understanding of the
methods, presuppositions and biases of scientific knowledge
claims.
Course Goals
A student who successfully completes this course should be able
 To philosophically examine, critically analyze and compare
various views of the nature and goals of the scientific
enterprise.
 To read philosophical texts with critical understanding.
 To have improved skills in thinking, writing, and reading.
Course Requirements
Your success in this course will be assessed by
 Participation and class attendance. This is a class in which we will
share our observations, ideas, and critical reflections. In this process,
we should gain a wider understanding of the philosophical texts and
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hopefully will learn much from each other. Attendance and
participation is thus mandatory. If you must miss class for a
legitimate reason, please contact me ahead of time. Each unexcused
absence warrants a five-percent reduction in the final grade. In
addition to the necessity of attending class, you need to come
prepared. This means that you have to read the entire
assignment, have thought about it, and are ready to discuss it.
 Preparation for Class: You will be asked to hand in written answers
to selected study questions in each section of the text. (These efforts
will be worth 25%of the final grade.) You should also be prepared to
discuss the case study and may hand in your analysis of that for extra
credit. In all of your assignments, you must write grammatically
correct English that is spelled correctly. You should use your
dictionaries and consult the writing center if you need additional help.
 Mid-Term and Final Examination: These exams will require you to
write critical, analytic answers to short essay questions. Each exam
effort will be worth 20% of the final grade or a total of 40% of the
final grade for both exams.
 Final paper: This paper is due on the last day of the class and a term
paper proposal is expected April 27. Further instructions are provided
below. This is worth 35% of the final grade.
Final Paper
Term paper proposal – Due April 27
This proposal should be about two printed pages identifying
 The topic you propose to explore in your term paper research,
 The sources you intend to use in your term paper research and
 The type of paper you expect to write (see below).
Term paper - Due June 3
This paper should be about 10 printed pages not including bibliography. It
should be a critical reflection on what you learned in your research for the
paper on one of the following types of explorations.
 A partial history of some scientific or science-related concept,
viewpoint, or theory.
 A critical exposition of two viewpoints related to science.
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 A critical exposition of a specific philosophical theory, spelling out
its strengths and weaknesses.
 A defense of a prominent theory or viewpoint against specific
criticisms.
 A case study of an important scientific experiment, discovery, or
theoretical development and a discussion of its significance for some
issue in the philosophy of science.
PAPERS MUST BE YOUR OWN WORK. Plagiarism is grounds for
failure of the course. Plagiarism includes the use of someone else’s ideas or
words without giving the appropriate reference or credit. If you are in doubt,
ask me.
Letter grades and equivalents
93-100= A
83-86= B
90-92 = A80-82= B87-89 = B+
77-79= C+
73-76=C
63-66=D
70-72= C- 60-62+ D67-69= D+ Below 60 + F
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
Tuesday, March 30
Introduction to some of the issues and history.
Thursday, April 1
Read: Karl Popper, “Science, Conjectures and
Refutations,”pp. 48-47; and John Ziman, “What is
Science?” pp.48-53.
Prepare to hand in Study Questions 1-5, p.100.
Tuesday, April 6
Read: Carl Hempel, “Studies in the Logic of
Explanation,” pp. 206-224. Prepare to hand in
Study Questions, 2-5.
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Thursday, April 8
Read: Karl Lambert and Gordon Britten, “Laws &
Conditional Statements.” 225-232; and Nancy
Cartwright, “The Truth Doesn’t Explain Much,”
pp. 233-240. Prepare to hand in Study Questions
7-16.
Tuesday, April 13
Read: Wesley Salmon, “Scientific Explanation:
How We Got From There to Here,” pp.241-263.
Study Question 20.
Thursday, April 15
Read: Bras C. van Frassen, “The Pragmatics of
Explanation,” pp. 264-277 and Philip Kitcher,
“Explanatory Unification,” pp. 278-301. Study
Questions: 19,22,23,24 and 25.
Thursday, April 20
Read: Rudolf Carnap, “The Nature of Theories,”
pp. 316-332. Study Questions: 1-2
Tuesday, April 22
Read: Hilary Putnam, “What Theories Are Not,”
333-337; N.R. Hanson, “Observation,” pp. 339350; and T. Stace, “Science and the Physical
World,” 351-357. Study Questions: 3-8.
Term Paper Proposals Due
Thursday, April 27
Read: Stephen Toulmin, “Do Sub-Microscopic
Entities Exist?” pp. 358-373. Study Questions
9 and 10.
_____________________________________________________________
Thursday, April 29
Read: Carl A. Matheson & A. David Kline,
“Is There a Significant Observational-Theoretical
Distinction?”pp. 374-389. Study Questions 11-14.
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Tuesday, May 4
Read: Ernan McMullin, “A Case for Scientific
Realism.” – handout. We will return to this piece
again later in the quarter.
Thursday, May 6th
Mid-Term Examination
Tuesday, May 11
Read: W.V. Quine & J.S. Ulian, “Hypothesis,”
pp. 404-414. Study Questions: 1-5
Thursday, May 13
Read: Ronald Giere, “Justifying Scientific
Theories,” pp. 415-434. Study Question 6.
Tuesday, May 18
Read: Thomas S. Kuhn, “Objectivity, Value
Judgment and Theory-Choice,” pp. 435-450.
Study Question 9.
Thursday, May 20
Read: Carl C. Hempel, “Scientific Rationality:
Analytic vs. Pragmatic Perspectives,” pp. 450-464
& Philipp G. Frank, “The Variety of Reasons for
the Acceptance of Scientific Theories,” pp.465475. Study Questions: 10 & 12-16.
Tuesday, May 25
Read: Richard Rudner, “The Scientist Qua
Scientist Makes Value Judgments,” pp.492-498 &
Carl G. Hempel, “Science and Human Values,”
499-14. Study Questions: 1-3.
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Thursday, May 27
Read: Ernan McMullin,” Values in Science,”
pp. 515-538. Study Questions: 4-7. Helen E.
Logino, “Can There Be a Feminist Science?”
Read: Robert Hollinger, “From Weber to
Habermas,” pp. 539-549. Questions 8-11.
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Tuesday, June 1
Thursday, June 3
Read: Ronald Giere, “The Feminist Question in
The Philosophy of Science,” pp. 550-564.
Study Questions 12-10.
RESEARCH PAPER DUE