Philosophy of Science
Code
711031058
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Filosofia
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Marta Mendonça
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
1. To identify rationality parameters operating in scientific practice and the philosophical concepts and principles sustaining it.
2. To identify the key scientific paradigms and their philosophical assumptions.
3. To recognize and spell out with accuracy the philosophical questions raised by scientific knowledge.
4. To get to know some of the most relevant literature in the field of philosophy of science.
5. To recognize the specificity of recent contributions within philosophy of science
Prerequisites
None.
Subject matter
The course is divided in two parts. In the first part, the historical background of the constitution of Philosophy of Science as a separate subject will be considered, the contributions of some of its main representatives (Carnap, Popper, Kuhn, Lakatos and Feyerabend) will be explored, and the most important schools of Philosophy of Science in the 20th century will identified and characterized. Discussions about the scientific method and the relationship between theory and reality will give unity to this part. The second part will address some problems and controversies facing Philosophy of Science today, namely: a) the distinction between science and pseudoscience; b) realism and anti-realism in science; c) the unity and plurality of scientific knowledge.
Bibliography
Agassi, J. (2014). Popper and His Popular Critics. Thomas Kuhn, Paul Feyerabend and Imre Lakatos. New York: Springer.
Godfrey-Smith, P. (2003). Theory and Reality. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.
Kuipers, T. (ed.) (2007). General Philosophy of Science: Focal Issues. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Ladyman, J. (2002). Understanding Philosophy of Science, London and New York: Routledge.
Leroux, J. (2010). Une histoire comparée de la philosophie des sciences, Volume II: L’empirisme logique en débat, Québec: Presses de l’Université Laval.
Teaching method
The course will have a double explanatory and hands-on approach. There will be theoretical classes, designed to introduce and frame the ideas of several philosophers, as well as to formulate and expand the problems under review; and classes more focused on the analysis and discussion of the literature. Students will have access to the texts to be discussed and should prepare them before class.
Evaluation method
Assessment will be made as follows:
1. A written test or assignment on a topic to be agreed between the teacher and the student at the beginning of the semester (35%).
2. A written exam at the end of the semester (65%).