PHILOSOPHY 1400 (010)

“Philosophy and the Sciences”

(Fall Semester 2007)

 Time:    MW 10:00-10:50 pm
 Room:  HLMS 199

Professor:  Carol Cleland (with TAs Annette Bryson, Tyler Hildebrand)
Office:  HLMS 282 (EXT 2-7619)
Office Hours:  M & W 2:30-3:30 p.m. & by appointment

Required Books:

Schick, Readings in the Philosophy of Science.
Erwin, Extinction.
Collins, The Language of God.

Requirements: 

1.         Reading Assignments:  You are responsible for having read and thought about the assigned material before coming to class. Philosophy is not easy; this process may take several hours. Most reading assignments will be accompanied by Study Questions. Their purpose is to help you learn to read philosophy and to think philosophically. Short papers and exams (including the final exam) will be based upon these questions.  

2.                  Evaluation: 

a.         3 Short papers and 3 quizzes in Sections:

1.  Short papers: Topics will be assigned in your Friday section a week before they are due. Short papers should be 2-3 pages long (typed, double-spaced, normal font). They are worth approximately 30% of your grade. Paper topics will be assigned on Sept 7 (due Sept 14), Oct 5 (due Oct 12), and Nov 9 (due Nov 16).

2.  Quizzes: Will be given in your Friday section. They will consist of one essay question. You will have 25 minutes to answer it. They are worth approximately 30% of your grade. Quizzes will be given on Sept 28, Oct 26, and Nov 30.

 

b.         Final Exam or Term Paper option (but not both):   

1.  Final Exam: held in this room on Tuesday, Dec 18, from 7:30-10:00 a.m. The final exam is designed to be completed in 2 hours and will consist of essay questions like those on the quizzes. It is worth approximately 40% of your grade.

2.  Term paper: 7-10 pages in length (normal font, double-spaced, typed). Topics must be cleared with your TA by Friday, Nov 30; anyone who fails to do this automatically defaults to taking the final exam. Final papers are due no latter than the end of the first hour of the final exam. It is worth approximately 40% of your grade.

Note: I do not automatically give make-up exams or accept late papers. If you believe that you have a good excuse, see your TA before the assignment is due. After the due date has passed, you will need a note from a physician or Dean.

Borderline grades: Improvement over the course of the semester, and regular attendance and participation in discussion sections will be used to determine grades in borderline cases, which frequently occur!

Course Description:

The subject of this course is science. Its purpose is to introduce students to contemporary philosophical thought about the nature of science. We will begin with questions such as the following: What is the “scientific method", and does it differ from other methods for obtaining knowledge?; In what sense can science be said to make progress?; Is scientific knowledge objective?; Is historical science (paleontology, etc.) inferior to experimental science?; Do “theoretical entities” such as electrons and DNA really exist? To bring these difficult philosophical issues to life, we will explore an exciting scientific debate that is currently occurring, namely, the debate over the extent and cause of the great Permian extinction, which occurred around 250 million years ago (before the age of the dinosaurs), and is thought to have almost ended life on Earth! We will also explore the creation/evolution debate through the eyes of one of the world’s leading biologists who accepts the theory of evolution and also believes in God!