Philosophy
4400/5400: Philosophy of Science
(Spring 2007)
TR 3:30-4:45 pm
HLMS 177
Professor: Carol Cleland
Office: HLMS 282 (EXT 2-7619)
Office Hours: T 10:30-11:30 am, Th
4:50-5:50 pm &
by appointment
Required Texts:
Lange, Philosophy of Science.
Sterelny & Griffiths, Sex and Death.
Requirements:
1. Reading Assignments & Class
Discussions:
Students are
expected to
have read and thought about the assigned readings before
coming to class. Informed participation in
class
discussions is expected of all students. Class participation is one
of a number of factors (e.g., improvement, class attendance) that I
use to determine a grade in borderline cases.
2.
Term Paper proposal:
A proposal for your term paper is due no later than
Thurs. March 22. Graduate student proposals should be 5-6 pages long
and reflect additional research. Undergraduate proposals should be 3-4
pages long and need not reflect additional research. Your will receive
a tentative grade on your proposal with lots of comments to help you
develop it into a fantastic term paper! The purpose of the tentative
grade is to give you an idea of how promising your proposal seems at
this stage. The tentative grade will be replaced by the final grade
that you receive on your term paper.
Details: Your proposal should consist in an introductory paragraph
stating your central thesis and placing it within the context of the
pertinent issues (discussed in class and in the readings); make your
thesis statement as specific as possible. The body of your proposal
should focus on a discussion of the relevant philosophical issues and
literature that is important to understanding and developing the thesis
of your paper; be sure to include references or a bibliography. A
concluding paragraph should briefly sketch how the material in the body
of your proposal will be used to support your thesis in the final
version of your paper.
Note: The basic idea is for you
to cover the relevant background material plus
write the introduction and
conclusion for your term paper. To finish your
term paper you will only
need to develop the details of your argument.
3.
Term Paper: A term
paper (typed, double-spaced, normal font) is due on or before Tues.,
May 8. Your term
paper is worth approximately 50% of your grade.
1. Undergraduates are required to write a
7-10 page term paper.
2. Graduate
students are required to write a 15-20 page term paper.
4.
Take home exam: On
Tuesday, April 10, I will assign a take-home exam. It will consist of
specific essay questions,
such as "explain the paradox of the raven." You will have one week to
complete it; it will be due April 17. Your grade on this exam is worth
approximately 50% of your final grade.
Course Description:
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?
