180176 KU Mechanistic philosophy of science (2019S)
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
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).
- Registration is open from Th 07.02.2019 09:00 to We 13.02.2019 10:00
- Registration is open from We 20.02.2019 09:00 to Tu 26.02.2019 10:00
- Deregistration possible until Su 31.03.2019 23:59
Details
max. 30 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
Wednesday
13.03.
13:15 - 14:45
Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
20.03.
13:15 - 14:45
Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
27.03.
13:15 - 14:45
Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
03.04.
13:15 - 14:45
Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
10.04.
13:15 - 14:45
Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
08.05.
13:15 - 14:45
Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
15.05.
13:15 - 14:45
Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
22.05.
13:15 - 14:45
Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
29.05.
13:15 - 14:45
Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
05.06.
13:15 - 14:45
Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
12.06.
13:15 - 14:45
Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
19.06.
13:15 - 14:45
Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
Wednesday
26.06.
13:15 - 14:45
Hörsaal. 2H NIG 2.Stock
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Assessment and permitted materials
ASSESSMENT:
Assessment is based on attendance, class participation and weekly assignments.
Assessment is based on attendance, class participation and weekly assignments.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
REQUIREMENTS AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
1. Active participation to the seminar
2. Reflections of weekly readings submitted to Moodle 24 hours before the class
3. Chairing class discussion
4. Presenting an article of your own choosing in the class
1. Active participation to the seminar
2. Reflections of weekly readings submitted to Moodle 24 hours before the class
3. Chairing class discussion
4. Presenting an article of your own choosing in the class
Examination topics
Reading list
BOOK:
Craver, Carl (2007). Explaining the Brain. Oxford: Oxford University Press.JOURNAL ARTICLES (in Moodle)
Baetu, T. M. (2015). The completeness of mechanistic explanations. Philosophy of Science, 82(5), 775-786.Drukarch et al. (2018). Thinking about the nerve impulse: A critical analysis of the electricity-centered conception of nerve excitability. Progress in Neurobiology.Green, S., Şerban, M., Scholl, R., Jones, N., Brigandt, I., & Bechtel, W. (2017). Network analyses in systems biology: New strategies for dealing with biological complexity. Synthese1-27.Knuuttila, T. T., & Loettgers, A. (2013). Synthetic modeling and the mechanistic account: Material recombination and beyond. Philosophy of Science, 80(5), 874-885.Levy, A., & Bechtel, W. (2013). Abstraction and the organization of mechanisms. Philosophy of Science, 80(2), 241-261.Love, A. C., & Nathan, M. J. (2015). The idealization of causation in mechanistic explanation. Philosophy of Science, 82(5), 761-774.Machamer, P., Lindley, D., & Craver, C. F. (2000). Thinking about mechanisms. Philosophy of Science, 67(1), 1-25.Rathkopf, C. 2018. “Network Representation and Complex Systems.” Synthese 195:55-8.
Craver, Carl (2007). Explaining the Brain. Oxford: Oxford University Press.JOURNAL ARTICLES (in Moodle)
Baetu, T. M. (2015). The completeness of mechanistic explanations. Philosophy of Science, 82(5), 775-786.Drukarch et al. (2018). Thinking about the nerve impulse: A critical analysis of the electricity-centered conception of nerve excitability. Progress in Neurobiology.Green, S., Şerban, M., Scholl, R., Jones, N., Brigandt, I., & Bechtel, W. (2017). Network analyses in systems biology: New strategies for dealing with biological complexity. Synthese1-27.Knuuttila, T. T., & Loettgers, A. (2013). Synthetic modeling and the mechanistic account: Material recombination and beyond. Philosophy of Science, 80(5), 874-885.Levy, A., & Bechtel, W. (2013). Abstraction and the organization of mechanisms. Philosophy of Science, 80(2), 241-261.Love, A. C., & Nathan, M. J. (2015). The idealization of causation in mechanistic explanation. Philosophy of Science, 82(5), 761-774.Machamer, P., Lindley, D., & Craver, C. F. (2000). Thinking about mechanisms. Philosophy of Science, 67(1), 1-25.Rathkopf, C. 2018. “Network Representation and Complex Systems.” Synthese 195:55-8.
Association in the course directory
Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:36
Mechanistic philosophy has been the main paradigm of philosophy of biology for two decades. Recently, it has become increasingly under attack. Especially new modeling approaches within biological research such as network analysis and dynamic systems theory have challenged the mechanistic approach.OBJECTIVES:
The course provides a comprehensive view into the recent discussion of mechanisms, especially within philosophy of biology and neuroscience. Having taken the course the students are able to follow the state-of-art discussion of mechanisms in philosophy of science. Through the discussion of the mechanistic philosophy, the students will also become familiar with other philosophical topics, such as explanation, causality, reductionism and unification.METHODS:
Close reading and critical discussion of the literature (concepts, themes, arguments), written reflections of the articles, (co-)chairing the group discussion, and a short group presentation of an article of interest.