HPS
Printable Syllabus
PHIL 360: Introduction to History and Philosophy of Science
Winter 2008, Term 2
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:00-12:30 pm, Buch A204
Instructor: Jonathan Tsou
Course Description: This course provides an introduction to the field of history and philosophy of science. The class focuses on Thomas Kuhn's Structure of Scientific Revolutions and the philosophical, historical, and sociological/ anthropological literature that followed Kuhn's landmark work. Specific issues addressed in the course include the nature of scientific change, values and objectivity in science, the underdetermination of scientific theories by evidence, scientific realism, and relativism. Students will read a variety of perspectives on science, including writings by Thomas Kuhn, Paul Feyerabend, Larry Laudan, Helen Longino, Lorraine Daston, Peter Galison, and David Bloor.
Course Texts: Required
- Thomas S. Kuhn ([1962] 1996). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, 3rd edition. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (required)
- Martin Curd and J. A. Cover (eds.) (1998). Philosophy of Science: The Central Issues. New York: Norton. (required)
Recommended
- John Preston (2008). Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions: A Reader's Guide. London: Continuum. (recommended)
Course Evaluation:
i) Take Home Exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30%
ii) Midterm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30%
iii) Final Exam . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40%
COURSE SCHEDULE: (Readings should be read prior to the date they appear under)
* SSR = Kuhn, T. S., The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.
* Curd & Cover = Curd, M. & Cover, J. A., Philosophy of Science.
* Preston = Preston, J., Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.
Thomas Kuhn: Normal Science, Paradigms, and Scientific Revolutions
January 6: Introduction
January 8: SSR, Preface, chs. 1 (pp. vii-xvi, 1-9)
January 13: SSR, chs. 2-3 (pp. 10-34)
January 15: SSR, ch. 4 (pp. 35-42)
January 20: SSR, chs. 5-6 (pp. 43-65)
January 22: SSR, ch. 7 (pp. 66-77)
January 27: SSR, ch. 8 (pp. 77-91)
January 29: SSR, ch. 9 (pp. 92-110)
February 3: SSR, ch. 10 (pp. 111-135)
February 5: SSR, ch. 11 (pp. 136-143)
February 10: SSR, ch. 12-13 (pp. 136-173)
February 12: Dudley Shapere, Review of SSR (Reading Packet)
February 17: Reading week: no lecture SSR Postscript (pp. 174-210)
February 19: Reading week: no lecture
Values, Objectivity, and Rationality
February 24: * * * * Take Home Exam Due in Class * * * * Kuhn, "Objectivity, Value Judgment, and Theory Choice" (C&C, pp. 102-118)
February 26: Ernan McMullin, "Rationality and Paradigm Change in Science" (C&C, pp. 119-138)
March 3: Larry Laudan, "Dissecting the Holist Picture of Scientific Change" (C&C, pp. 139-169)
March 5: Helen Longino, "Values and Objectivity" (C&C, pp. 170-191)
Underdetermination and the Duhem-Quine Thesis
March 10: Pierre Duhem, "Physical Theory and Experiment" (C&C, pp. 257-279)
March 12: W. V. Quine, "Two Dogmas of Empiricism" (C&C, pp. 280-301)
March 17: Paul Feyerabend, "How to be a Good Empiricist" (C&C, pp. 922-949)
March 19 Larry Laudan, "Demystifying Underdetermination" (C&C, pp. 320-353)
March 24: * * * * In Class Midterm Exam * * * *
History of Science, STS, and the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge (SSK)
March 26: Lorraine Daston and Peter Galison, "The Image of Objectivity" (Reading Packet)
March 31: David Bloor, "The Strong Programme in the Sociology of Knowledge" (Reading Packet)
April 2: Steven Shapin, "Here and Everywhere: Sociology of Scientific Knowledge" (Reading Packet)
April 7: Review Class
* * * * Final Exam * * * *