PHIL 206: Philosophy of Science
Syllabus
Ken Aizawa
Smith Building 201A.
Office hours: M-F 9:00-10:00, and by appt.
Phone: 869-5698
email: kaizawa@centenary.edu
The course provides an examination of 1) the nature of science and scientific method, 2) the
nature of scientific concepts, and 3) the nature of scientific change. In the first section of the
course, these topics are addressed through an extended discussion of evolutionary theory and
creationism. This provides a number of concrete cases of scientific reasoning in action. Further,
it addresses a debate of independent interest.
Date
8/21
8/23
8/25
8/28
8/30
9/1
9/4
9/6
9/8
9/11
9/13
9/15
9/18
9/20
9/22
9/25
9/27
9/29
Readings
Introduction
Berra, Evolution and the Myth of Creationism, Chapters 1 & 2.
Berra, Evolution and the Myth of Creationism, Chapter 3-5.
Berra, Evolution and the Myth of Creationism, Chapter 3-5.
Gish, Evolution: The Fossils Say No! Chapters 1-2.
Gish, Evolution: The Fossils Say No! Chapters 1-2
QUIZ #1
No Class – Labor Day Break
Gish, Evolution: The Fossils Say No! Chapters 3-5.
Swinton, Fossil Birds, Chapter 4 (On reserve at Magale)
Gish, Evolution: The Fossils Say No! Chapters 6-7.
Lovejoy, “Modelling Human Origins”, pp. 1-15. (On reserve at Magale. Even
though the entire article is not assigned, it is available should you care to read it.)
Denton, Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, Chapters 1-3
Denton, Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, Chapters 4-5
Denton, Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, Chapters 6-7
QUIZ #2
Denton, Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, Chapters 8-10
Denton, Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, Chapters 11-12
Denton, Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, Chapters 13-15
Karl Popper, “Science: Conjectures and Refutations”, pp. 3-10.
Thomas S. Kuhn, “Logic of Discovery or Psychology of Research?”, pp. 11-19.
Paper #1 Due
Karl Popper, “Science: Conjectures and Refutations”, pp. 3-10.
Thomas S. Kuhn, “Logic of Discovery or Psychology of Research?”, pp. 11-19.
Thomas S. Kuhn, “Logic of Discovery or Psychology of Research?”, pp. 11-19.
QUIZ #3
10/2
10/4
10/6
10/9
10/11
10/13
10/16
10/18
10/20
10/23
10/35
10/27
10/30
11/1
11/3
11/6
11/8
11/10
11/13
11/15
11/17
11/20
11/22
11/24
11/27
11/29
12/1
12/4
12/6
12/8
Imre Lakatos, “Science and Pseudoscience”, pp. 20-26.
Paul Thagard, “Why Astrology is a Pseudoscience”, pp. 27-37.
Paul Thagard, “Why Astrology is a Pseudoscience”, pp. 27-37.
Michael Ruse, “Creation-Science is Not Science”, p. 38-47.
Larry Laudan, “Commentary: Science at the Bar-Causes for Concern”, pp. 48-53.
Michael Ruse, “Response to the Commentary: Pro Judice”, pp. 54-61.
Review
Thomas Kuhn, “The Nature and Necessity of Scientific Revolutions”, pp. 86-101.
No Class – Fall Break
No Class – Fall Break
Thomas Kuhn, “The Nature and Necessity of Scientific Revolutions”, pp. 86-101.
Thomas Kuhn, “The Nature and Necessity of Scientific Revolutions”, pp. 86-101.
Thomas Kuhn, “Objectivity, Value Judgement, and Theory Choice”, pp. 102-118.
Ernan McMullin, “Rationality and Paradigm Change in Science”, pp. 119-138.
Ernan McMullin, “Rationality and Paradigm Change in Science”, pp. 119-138.
Ernan McMullin, ARationality and Paradigm Change in Science@, pp. 119-138.
QUIZ #4
Larry Laudan, “Dissecting the Holist Picture of Scientific Change”, pp. 139-169
Larry Laudan, “Dissecting the Holist Picture of Scientific Change”, pp. 139-169
Larry Laudan, “Dissecting the Holist Picture of Scientific Change”, pp. 139-169.
Helen Longino, “Values and Objectivity”, pp. 170-191.
Kathleen Okruhlik, “Gender and the Biological Sciences”, pp. 192-208.
Kathleen Okruhlik, “Gender and the Biological Sciences”, pp. 192-208.
QUIZ #5
Rudolf Carnap, “The Value of Laws: Explanation and Prediction”, pp. 678-684.
Carl Hempel, “Two basic Types of Scientific Explanation”, pp. 685-694.
Paper #2 Due
Rudolf Carnap, “The Value of Laws: Explanation and Prediction”, pp. 678-684.
Carl Hempel, “Two basic Types of Scientific Explanation”, pp. 685-694
Carl Hempel, “Two basic Types of Scientific Explanation”, pp. 685-694.
No Class - Thanksgiving Break
No Class - Thanksgiving Break
No Class - Thanksgiving Break
Carl Hempel, “The Thesis of Structural Identity,” pp. 695-705
Carl Hempel, “The Thesis of Structural Identity,” pp. 695-705
Carl Hempel, “The Thesis of Structural Identity,” pp. 695-705.
QUIZ #6
Carl Hempel, “Inductive-Statistical Explanation”, pp. 706-719.
Carl Hempel, “Inductive-Statistical Explanation”, pp. 706-719.
Carl Hempel, “Inductive-Statistical Explanation”, pp. 706-719.
Final Exam Period
Paper #3 Due
QUIZ #6