2009 Course Handbook
PHIL232: Philosophy of Science
How does science work? Should scientific method be privileged over other ways of knowing? How do scientific theories change over time? Should the history of science be seen as an unfolding tale of intellectual and technological progress, or as a messier and ambivalent process? This unit introduces central issues in the philosophy of science, including the nature of observation and experiment, the question of scientific realism, the rationality or irrationality of scientific revolutions, the relation between science and values, and the nature of explanation.
This unit presumes no particular background in science - it is suitable for students with a background in arts disciplines as well as for students in the social, behavioural, biological, and physical sciences.
| Credit Points: | 4 |
| Contact Hours: | 3 |
| When Offered: | D1 - Day; Offered in the first half-year |
| Staff Contact: | Professor Peter Menzies |
| Prerequisites: | 12cp or admission to GDipPhil |
| Corequisites: | |
| NCCWs: | |
| Unit Designations: | Science |
| Assessed As: | Graded |
| Offered By: |
Department of Philosophy |
Timetable Information
For unit timetable information please visit the Timetables@Macquarie Website.