Understanding Science

Philosophy 218
Spring 2005, Tu Th 11:45-1:05
Humanities 0123
http://www.fecundity.com/courses
Professor:   P.D. Magnus
Office: HU249
Office Hours: Tu 1:30-2:30, W 11:00-noon, and by appt.

Texts

Course packet [CP]
Philip Kitcher [PK]
Science, Truth, and Democracy.
Stephen Jay Gould [SJG]
The Mismeasure of Man.

The course packet is available at Shipmates; the texts at the campus bookstore or Mary Janes.

Requirements

Exam 1 (25%)  
Exam 2 (25%)  
Short papers (20%)   There will be five short papers spaced throughout the term. Each will be a one page response to an assigned question. A question will be provided in class the period before a short paper is due; the question will also be available on the course website.
Long Paper (30%)  
The long paper will be 4-6 pages on an assigned topic. A rough draft will be due during Week 11 (Tuesday, April 5). The paper will be returned to you with comments and the final draft will be due during Week 14 (Tuesday, April 26). You should turn in the rough draft along with the final.

The draft will be marked with the grade it would have received if it were a final draft. If the paper is not improved, however, the final draft will not receive this grade! If you turn in the paper unmodified, you will get one letter grade less than the grade marked on the draft.
Class participation   Participation in class discussion is required. Exemplary participation will add to your grade, up to two-thirds of a letter grade.

Policies

Academic honesty:   Students are encouraged to discuss issues from the course with each other and with others outside of class. However, they are responsible for their own ideas. Papers should include citations to any works cited or consulted, as well as acknowledgments of helpful interactions.
Cheating will not be tolerated.
Late papers:   The paper will be considered late if it is not ready to hand in at the beginning of class on the day it is due. Each day late will result in a loss of one letter grade.
Absences:   Students who will need to miss class for religious observance, away games, or for other scheduled reasons should discuss these issues with the professor at the beginning of the term. If an emergency results in absence, the student should contact the professor as soon as possible. Make-up exams will be given only for documented, excused absences.

Schedule

The following is a provisional schedule. Specific readings may take more or less time than indicated, but exam dates and due dates for papers will not change.
Th 1/20
Introduction

Thinking about science

Tu 1/25
Science as falsification
(Read Popper, CP1)
Th 1/27
-continued-
Tu 2/1
Science as a social structure
(Read Merton, CP 2)
SHORT PAPER 1 DUE
Th 2/3
Case study: The history of optics
(Read Worrall, CP 3)
Tu 2/8
Case study: The detection of solar neutrinos
(Read Pinch, CP 4)
Th 2/10
Case study: Scientists in industry
(Read Barnes, CP 5)
Tu 2/15
-continued-
SHORT PAPER 2 DUE

Theories as maps

Th 2/17
Natural kinds
(Read PK ch 4)
Tu 2/22
NO CLASS
Th 2/24
Theories as maps
(Read Toulmin, CP 8)
Tu 3/1
More on maps
(Read PK ch 5)
SHORT PAPER 3 DUE

The value of truth

Th 3/3
Scientific significance
(Read PK ch 6)
Tu 3/8
Case study: Genetics and IQ
(Read SJG ch 5)
SHORT PAPER 4 DUE
Th 3/10
-continued-
(Read SJG pgs 286-302, 351-353, 365-366)
Tu 3/15
Should there be limits to enquiry?
(Read PK ch 8)
Th 3/17
EXAM 1

(SPRING BREAK!)

Tu 3/29
Is truth a good thing?
(Read PK ch 12 and pgs 172-180)

Gender and science

Th 3/31
Women in science
(Read Halloway and Fox Keller, CP 9-11)
Tu 4/5
Values
(Read Longino, CP 12-13)
DRAFT DUE
Th 4/7
Role models
(Read Brush, CP 14)
Tu 4/12
Heroism
(Read Oreskes, CP 15)
Th 4/14
-continued-

Science and social
responsibility

Tu 4/19
Well-ordered science
(Read PK ch 9)
SHORT PAPER 5 DUE
Th 4/21
-continued-
(Read PK ch 10)
Tu 4/26
Making do
(Read PK ch 14)
LONG PAPER DUE
Th 4/28
Administration science policy
(Read CP 16-17)
Tu 5/3
Concluding thoughts
final exam time
EXAM 2