Universität Wien

180162 SE Philosophy of Science (2020W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Continuous assessment of course work

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

UPDATE 2. November: Das Seminar wird vollständig online fortgesetzt.

Depending on the COVID-19 situation and public health regulations, the seminar may have to take place in a hybrid online/offline format, or entirely online. However, assessment and time slots for online sessions remain the same. If participation due to health or travel reasons is not possible, please get in touch with the course leader.

Wednesday 07.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
Wednesday 14.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
Wednesday 21.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
Wednesday 28.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
Wednesday 04.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
Wednesday 11.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
Wednesday 18.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
Wednesday 25.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
Wednesday 02.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
Wednesday 09.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
Wednesday 16.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
Wednesday 13.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
Wednesday 20.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock
Wednesday 27.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 3B NIG 3.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course is an advanced introduction to philosophy of science, covering central issues from both historical and contemporary philosophy of science. Having taken the course, participants should be familiar with the main topics and theories within philosophy of science. Besides being introduced to the central questions from and a bit of history of philosophy of science, students will be able to participate in discussions, understand, and critically reflect upon ongoing debates. In addition to general philosophy of science topics, examples from different sciences, including economics, will be addressed.

Method of the course: seminar, i.e. presentations and discussion of texts. Students will co-chair sessions, prepare text-based assignments and presentations at home, discuss and present in class, and write a thesis-oriented seminar paper.
Depending on the COVID-19 situation and public health regulations, the seminar may have to take place in a hybrid online/offline format, or entirely online. However, assessment and time slots for online sessions remain the same. If participation due to health or travel reasons is not possible, please get in touch with the course leader.

Assessment and permitted materials

Assessment will be based on: active participation (20%), home-assignments (20%), co-chairing of a session (10%), and a seminar-paper (50%).

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Participants of this course should be familiar with the central topics from philosophy of science, be able to understand, discuss, and critically reflect upon historical and contemporary issues within philosophy of science. Two unauthorized absences will be excused. By registering for this course/seminar, you tacitly agree to having all your electronic submissions checked by the plagiarism detection software Turnitin.

Examination topics

What is science?; Induction, deduction, abduction; Causality; Laws of nature; Explanations; Popper, Kuhn & their critics; Scientific realism; Models, idealizations, abstractions; Reduction and emergence; Scientific understanding and representation; Probability, rational choice & game theory; Measurement & experiments; Bayesianism: learning & evidence.

Reading list

Samir Okasha, 2002, Philosophy of Science: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press.

Peter Godfrey-Smith, 2003, Theory and Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science, University of Chicago Press.

Additional articles and texts will be announced in the seminar and on Moodle.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 02.11.2020 20:29