This course is two pronged. The first part of the class addresses general issues in philosophy of science. We will explore the scientific method, the nature of the support offered by evidence for a theory, differences between experimental and historical science, scientific laws, scientific explanation, natural kinds, and the structure of scientific theories. Subsequently we will apply some of these general considerations to issues in biology. We will address questions such as: How are evolutionary hypotheses confirmed or refuted? Is neo-Darwinian evolution a theory on a par with those in physics? Are species and higher biological taxa natural kinds? Are there any genuine laws of biology? Is biology “reducible” to chemistry and physics?