HSS F379-Phil - Sci

BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI K. K.
BIRLA GOA CAMPUS

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
(Handout)
Course No : HSS F379

Course Title : INTRODUCTION TO PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
Level :3
Credit :3
Hours :3L
IC : Hareesh A. G.
Scope & Objective:

Throughout history, science has dramatically changed the pace and mode of human life. It gained
momentum during the modern era when different branches of science emerged. In addition to
systematizing knowledge, these derivative scientific inquiries organized the study of worldly
phenomena. It is, however, the mother of all subjects, the philosophy that has historically shaped
the sense of scientific inquiry with its arguments and counter arguments. This course first examines
the basics of philosophical perspectives on scientific inquiry. With this course, students will be
able to recognize the questions about science and how they differ from scientific questions. It
provides a clear understanding of what is distinctive about science, i.e., how it differs from other
human enterprises regarding knowledge, methods, implications, and values. It enables students to
understand how philosophy scrutinizes scientific theories and explanations in their attempt to
unveil the causality of phenomena. It also aims to create an awareness among students about how
science relates to philosophy and further make sense of the philosophical issues in different
branches of science.
Course Description:
The course introduces students various philosophical perspectives on science in general. It mainly
considers a few of the classic questions in the philosophy of science: What is it to call something
a science? How does scientific reasoning work? What is the nature of scientific explanation? How
do scientific theories change over time? Are scientific theories true? Is science value-free? A
detailed discussions on these will enable students to understand the concern of philosophy of
science, in general, and various thought provoking philosophical issues associated with different
branches of science, in specific. In the end, students will be knowledgeable about the critical issues
in the philosophy of science. They will find themselves comfortable discussing complex ideas and
able to analyze and construct philosophical arguments concerning science.
Textbook:
1. Okasha, Samir. 2002. Philosophy of Science-A Very Short Introduction. OUP. NY.
2. Merrilee H. Salmon., et.al. 1999[1992]. Introduction to the Philosophy of Science.
Hackett Publishing Company. Indianapolis.
Reference books/Articles:
1. Lewens, Tim. 2016. The Meaning of Science-An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science.
Basic Books. NY.
2. Losee, John. 2001. A Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Science. 4th ed. OUP.
NY.
3. Chakravartty, Anjan. 2017. Scientific Realism. Stanford Encyclopedia of Sciences.
[Online]
4. Course Plan:
Lec. Learning Objectives Topics to be covered Reference Chap / Sec.
No.
1 To introduce philosophy and Philosophy and Science RB-1: Introduction
Science;
2 To demarcate science and pseudo- Demarcating science and TB-1: Chp-1

science Pseudo science: in terms of
assumptions and methods,
3 To understand the focal questions of What Philosophy of science TB-1: Chp-1
philosophy of science does? TB-2: Introduction
4-5 To establish the ancient The ancient philosophical RB-2: Chp-1,2,4&5
philosophical roots of science legacy of science:
Aristotelianism
6-8 To explain the modern emergence of Copernican, Kepler, Galileo, TB-1: Chp-1
science Descartes, and Newton
9 To understand the nature of science Debate on the nature of Class notes
in different ages ancient and modern sciences
10 - 11 To enable the students understand Deduction and Induction: TB-1: Chp-2
the nature of Scientific Reasoning Basics TB-2: Chp-1.5
12 To help students understand the Hume: Uniformity of nature TB-1: Chp-2
Problem of induction and the problem of induction
13 To enable students know the IBE: examining the use in TB-1: Chp-2
Inference to the best explanation the modern science;
arguments for and against
14 - 15 To establish the Induction- Probability: subjective and TB-1: Chp-2
Probability connection logical interpretations;
Reasons for philosophers
interests in probability
16 - 17 To describe the nature of scientific Covering law model; the TB-1: Chp-3
explanations problem of symmetry, The TB-2: Chp-1
problem of irrelevance
18 To analyze the concept of causality Explanation and Causality TB-1: Chp-3
19 - 20 To understand the province of Limits of scientific TB-1: Chp-3
explanation explanation; reduction
21 To understand the advantages and Debate on hidden
disadvantages of science metaphysical roots of Class Notes
science
22 To understand the dichotomy of Debate between realism and TB-1: Chp-4
realism and anti-realism anti-realism TB-2: Chp-3
23 To know the realists justifications No miracle argument; TB-1: Chp-4
responses RA-3: Sec-2.1
24 To understand the meaning of Realist/anti-realist on the TB-1: Chp-4
Observation observability issue
25 To recognize the Anti-realist The Underdetermination TB-1: Chp-4
response to realist claims argument RA-3: Sec-3.1
26 To illustrate Scientific change and Logical positivism TB-1: Chp-5
scientific revolutions TB-2: Chp-3.4
27 - 28 To explain Kuhn’s explanation of Scientific revolution; TB-1: Chp-5
scientific change Paradigm shift;
29 To understand the base of Kuhn’s Incommensurability and TB-1: Chp-5
explanation theory-ladenness of data TB-2: Chp-4.6
30 To understand the rationality of Impacts of Kuhn’s thoughts TB-1: Chp-5
science and Kuhn’s legacy on science
31 - 32 To briefly understand the Physics: On absolute space TB-1: Chp-6
philosophical problems in various – Leibniz Vs Newton
sciences
33 - 34 -do- Biology: Classification; TB-1: Chp-6
Species Problem
35 - 36 -do- Psychology: The TB-1: Chp-6
architecture of human mind
37 - 38 To know the major critics of science Responses to Scientism; TB-1: Chp-7
religious criticism
39 - 40 To understand the role of value in Debate on ‘is science value- TB-1: Chp-7
science free?’
5. Evaluation Scheme:
EC Evaluation Duration Weightage (%) Date, Time Remarks
No. Components
1. Quiz 10 minutes 10 To be announced Closed Book
2. Debate/Group 5 (attendance) + 5 Open Book
Discussion I 45 Minutes (leading discussion)
Total = 10
3. Mid Semester Exam 1.5 hours 30 To be announced Closed Book
4 Debate/Group 5 (attendance) Open Book
Discussion II 45 Minutes 5 (leading
discussion)
Total = 10
5 Comprehensive 3 hours 40 To be announced Closed Book
Exam
No make-up for any of the evaluative components (except medical reasons)
01/08/23 Instructor-in-Charge

HSS F379-Phil - Sci

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

HSS F379-Phil - Sci

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

HSS F379-Phil - Sci

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

BIRLA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, PILANI K. K.

BIRLA GOA CAMPUS

Course No : HSS F379

Scope & Objective:

2 To demarcate science and pseudo- Demarcating science and TB-1: Chp-1

No make-up for any of the evaluative components (except medical reasons)

You might also like