Philosophy Program
Philosophy for Science Students
It is possible to study philosophy as part of a science degree, if you are a student in:
- Science, Technology & Engineering
- Health Sciences
- Double Degree: Arts/Science, Arts/Health Sciences
Why study philosophy as part of a science degree?
Science and technology are extraordinarily influential. In the western world, most of us take our first breaths and will take our last under medical supervision - science-based medicine, that is. And between these events much of what we do is made possible only by the products of science-based technology. Philosophy of Science (together with History of Science and Sociology of Science) attempts to study science itself: to look as carefully, reasonably and dispassionately as possible at science as a body of putative knowledge and as a human institution.
Why do that? Well, below are some of the questions philosophers ask, and if you think any of them interesting or important then philosophy is for you. Many science students have taken philosophy units over the years and they frequently report that it gives them a larger perspective on their science studies which is both stimulating and valuable. If you are thinking of becoming a science teacher, then having some Philosophy of Science and a bit of historical perspective in your background is very useful indeed. And now that Philosophy is a VCE subject, it could provide another string to your teaching bow.
Philosophers in particular are interested in understanding how and to what extent science gives us a true picture of reality.
- What are the methods of science? Are they at bottom the same for high-energy physicists, evolutionary biologists, cognitive psychologists, ethologists … ?
- If science is uniquely authoritative about the nature of reality, why do scientific theories change over time?
- Is the large measure of agreement among scientists at any given time the result of the compelling arguments they mount for their theories, or does it have more to do with the way science is organized as an institution?
- What can we learn about the nature of science by studying its historical development?
- Are scientific explanations essentially different from explanations in other domains of inquiry?
Back to top
Philosophers are also interested in the social and moral impact of science.
- Do scientists have moral obligations that are peculiar to their social role?
- What are the limits to what we may do in pursuit of scientific knowledge?
- Is the scientific world-view incompatible with religious or other sorts of spiritual visions of the world?
Philosophy of Science at La Trobe is taught in a way that pays close attention to the history of science. Two of our first year units, for example, require students to look closely at the historical development of particular areas of science: Philosophy PHI1AAP is concerned with the history of astronomy from the ancient Greeks to Newton; Philosophy PHI1BAP examines the development of theories of sexual reproduction from ancient times to Darwin.
How do I fit philosophy into my degree?
Provided there are open electives in your course then you can include some Philosophy units. There may be some restrictions on the number of units, so you should check with Advisers in your own Faculty. Students taking Double Degrees may include more Philosophy units, but should check the regulations for their particular program.
Back to top
Choosing philosophy units
FIRST YEAR
There are three first year Philosophy units and a first year Logic unit which are of particular relevance to science students. Like Philosophy of Science, Logic is very usefully combined with science units, especially mathematics and computer science. All of these units are of 15 credit points.
PHI1AAP ASTRONOMY AND PHILOSOPHY
PHI1BAP BIOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY
PHI1CRT CRITICAL THINKING (Semester 1 Lecture-based)
PHI1CRT CRITICAL THINKING (Semester 2 Online)
Click here for more information about Critical Thinking Online
SECOND AND THIRD YEAR
Many philosophy units are available at either second or third year level. They cover all sorts of topics, some of which may relate to your particular interests. The following philosophy of science and logic units are particularly recommended for science students. Note that many of them can be taken by science students without any prior study of philosophy.
PHI2CAS/3CAS Certainty & subjectivity (not available 2009)
PHI2ECP/3ECP Ecological philosophies (not available 2009)
PHI2/3EDU Ecology, democracy & utopia (not available 2009)
PHI2/3FRD Freud (not available 2009)
PHI2HPA History & philosophy of science A
PHI2HPB History & philosophy of science B
PHI2/3LMU Language, meaning & understanding (not available 2009)
PHI2/3PSA Philosophy of science A (not available 2009)
PHI2/3PET Professional ethics (not available 2009)
PHI2/3LOG Logic
PHI2/3FOL Frontiers of logic
For unit descriptions search the Unit Database by typing in the unit code. These descriptions should help you to choose a unit that suits your interests.
For more information about philosophy
Prof Andrew Brennan
Tel:03 9479 2988
Email: a.brennan@latrobe.edu.au
John Fox
Tel: 03 9479 2986
Email: j.fox@latrobe.edu.au
Philosophy Administration:
Room: Humanities 2, room 313-6
Phone: 03 9479 1673
Email: philosophy@latrobe.edu.au
Back to top
Philosophy home page
|
