Universität Wien

180201 SE Philosophy of Science (2021W)

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

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 11/19/2021: until further notice we are switching to distance learning mode, i.e. using the video conference software BigBlueButton on Moodle.

If the COVID-19 situation and public health regulations permit, the seminar will take place in a hybrid online/offline format. Participation will be possible in person or via BigBlueButton. 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 13.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hybride Lehre
    Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 20.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hybride Lehre
    Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 27.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hybride Lehre
    Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 03.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hybride Lehre
    Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 10.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hybride Lehre
    Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 17.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hybride Lehre
    Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 24.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hybride Lehre
    Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Wednesday 01.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 15.12. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 12.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 19.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital
  • Wednesday 26.01. 15:00 - 16:30 Digital

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course is an 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 special sciences 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.

Assessment and permitted materials

Assessment will be based on: active participation, home-assignments, co-chairing of a session, and a reflection paper.

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.

Assessment scheme: active participation (20%), home-assignments (20%), co-chairing of a session (10%), and a reflection paper (50%).
Grading:
1 (excellent) 100 – 90%
2 (good) 89 – 81%
3 (satisfactory) 80 – 71%
4 (sufficient) 70 - 61%
5 (insufficient) 60 – 0%

Examination topics

What is science?; induction, deduction, abduction;logical positivism; causality; laws of nature; explanations; Popper, Kuhn & their critics; scientific realism; models, idealizations, abstractions; reduction and emergence; scientific understanding and representation; Bayesianism: learning & evidence; philosophical problems in the special sciences.

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: Fr 12.05.2023 00:18