Understanding Science

Philosophy 218

MWF 12:35-01:30, HU24

http://www.fecundity.com/courses

P.D. Magnus

Office hours: Tu 11:00-noon, W 2:00-3:00, and by app't

Texts: A course packet is available at Shipmates in Stuyvesent Plaza, across the street from campus. [CP]

The following are available at the campus bookstore and at Mary Jane's:

Kitcher, Science, Truth, and Democracy

ISBN: 0195165527

Gould, The Mismeasure of Man

ISBN: 0393314251

Requirements:

10% short paper

25% first mid-term exam

25% second mid-term exam

40% final exam

Class participation: Participation in class discussion is required. Exemplary participation will add to your grade, up to two-thirds of a letter grade.

The short papers: 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.

A paper will be considered late if it is not handed in at or before the beginning of class on the day it is due. Each day late will result in a loss of one letter grade.

Exams: The mid-terms will be take-home exams. They will be passed out in the class meeting before they are due. Typed answers are due by the beginning of class on the dates listed.

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.

Absences: Students who will need to miss exam dates for foreseeable reasons should discuss them 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.

Schedule of topics

The following is a provisional schedule. Specific readings may take more or less time than indicated, but exam dates and due dates will not change.

Week 1 jan23-27

Introduction

Science as falsification (Popper, CP1)

Week 2 jan30-feb3

Science as a social structure (Merton, CP 2)

Week 3 feb6-feb10

feb6: SHORT PAPER 1 due

The history of optics (Worrall, CP 3)

Solar neutrinos (Pinch, CP 4)

Week 4 feb13-feb17

Scientists in industry (Barnes, CP 5)

Natural kinds (Read PK ch 4)

Winter break

Week 5 feb27-mar3

feb27: SHORT PAPER 2 due

Theories as maps (Read Toulmin, CP 8)

More on maps (Read PK ch 5)

Week 6 mar6-mar10

mar6: 1st EXAM due

Scientific significance (Read PK ch 6)

Case study: Genetics and IQ
(Read SJG ch 5)

Week 7 mar13-mar17

IQ, continued
(Read pgs 286-302, 351-353, 365-366)

Week 8 mar20-mar25

mar20: SHORT PAPER 3 due

Should there be limits to enquiry?
(Read PK ch 8)

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

Week 9 mar27-mar31

Women in science

(Read Halloway and Giere, CP 9&12)

Values (Read Longino, CP 10-11)

Week 10 apr3-apr7

apr3: SHORT PAPER 4 due

Role models (Read Brush, CP 13)

apr7: NO CLASS
Spring break

Week 11 apr17-apr21

Heroism (Read Oreskes, CP 15)

Week 12 apr24-apr28

apr24: 2nd EXAM due

Well-ordered science (Read PK ch 9-10)

Week 13 may1-may5

may1: SHORT PAPER 5 due

Making do (Read PK ch 14)

Week 14 may8

Conclusion