Year
2016
Units
4.5
Contact
1 x 2-hour seminar weekly
Prerequisites
9 units of first level topics
Enrolment not permitted
PHIL2022 has been successfully completed
Topic description
This topic is designed to introduce students to recent philosophical material on knowledge and science. Questions will include: To what extent do our theoretical biases influence perception? Are there any rational procedures for gathering knowledge? Is there any fundamental difference between science and witchcraft? To what extent is scientific knowledge socially constructed? Do the social features of science make science relative or subjective? Is science male biased? What role should science and scientific ways of thought play in society?
Educational aims
This topic aims to:
- acquaint students with key issues in the epistemology and metaphysics of the sciences
- introduce students to recent arguments and literature in the metaphysics and epistemology of the sciences
- enable students to formulate a coherent argument which makes reference to some key recent literature in the metaphysics and epistemology of the sciences
- enable students to clearly express their ideas about the philosophy of science both in writing and orally
Expected learning outcomes
On completing this topic students will have:
- read and understood central texts on the metaphysics and epistemology of the sciences
- understood and appreciate the significance of recent arguments on important issues in the epistemology and metaphysics of the sciences
- the ability to formulate clear arguments on important issues in the philosophy of science
- the ability to clearly communicate their idea about the philosophy of science both in writing and orally
Key dates and timetable
Timetable details for 2016 are no longer published.
Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042
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