Philosophy of Science unit (HPH306)

Introduction

Science is our most successful attempt to understand the world around us, and it plays an extremely important role in contemporary society. As such, we should not ignore the possibility that science may have something to contribute to traditional philosophical debates about the nature of the world and our place in it. But nor should we, as philosophers or ordinary citizens, ignore the limitations of science and accept everything scientists tell us uncritically. In this unit we cast a philosophical eye over science, considering questions like What is science? What makes something a science rather than a pseudo-science? Are there limits to scientific knowledge? We may also cast a scientific eye on philosophy, considering what science might have to tell us about such issues as what it is to be human, the philosophy of time, the question of design in and of the natural world, and the nature of explanation. This unit will be of interest to philosophy majors, to students studying in a bachelor of science, or to anyone who is interested in the nature of science.

Summary

Unit name	Philosophy of Science
Unit code	HPH306
Credit points	12.5
College/School	Arts and Society Humanities and Social Sciences
Discipline	Philosophy
Coordinator	Doctor Richard Corry
Available as an elective?	Yes
Delivered By	University of Tasmania
Level	Advanced

Availability

Specific information on 2027 unit availability will be available in August

Learning Outcomes

• Understand some of the philosophical issues that lie at the foundations of science.
• Analyse and critically assess philosophical arguments.
• Engage with a range of philosophical views, synthesising perspectives to arrive at reflectively formed judgements.
• Communicate your ideas and reasoning in a clear manner.
• Appreciate the potential and limitations of scientific and rational enquiry.

Fee Information

2027 fee information will be available in August.

Requisites

Prerequisites

25 credit points at Introductory level or higher

Teaching

Teaching Pattern	On campus  Online lecture or equivalent (1 hour) Weekly seminar (1 hour) Weekly tutorial (1 hour) Off campus  Online lecture or equivalent (1 hour) Weekly online discussions (equivalent 2 hours)
Assessment	Essay plan (5%)|Article summary (15%)|Essay (40%)|Take home exam (40%)
Timetable	View the lecture timetable | View the full unit timetable

Textbooks

Required	All required readings will be available in MyLO.
Recommended	Information about recommended readings is available in MyLO.

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