PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
PHI2HPB
2015
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
The modern sciences emerged in the seventeenth century, deepening our understanding of our place in the world by means of theories that offered comprehensive explanations of how nature worked. There was hope that plant, animal and human life could in the end be reduced to physical theories delivering exact predictions, resulting in ever more powerful control over the contingencies of everyday life. By the nineteenth century, the advances in biology had led to a schism between religion and the sciences - one that still exists in many forms. But while some of the sciences have made enormous progress, others have failed to deliver the promised goods. This subject explores what is meant by notions like "explanation", "prediction", the question of scientific methodology, discusses the relationship between theory and observation, and considers whether there are any objective standards by which to judge good and bad science.
School: School of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points: 15
Subject Co-ordinator: Andrew Brennan
Available to Study Abroad Students: Yes
Subject year level: Year Level 2 - UG
Exchange Students: Yes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites: Available to students from any Faculty who have completed 30cp 1st year subjects. All other students require coordinator's approval.
Co-requisites: N/A
Incompatible subjects: N/A
Equivalent subjects: N/A
Special conditions: N/A
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Identify the underlying issues in a complex problem or controversial debate, analyse their structure and employ appropriate reasoning strategies designed to resolve the problem.
- Activities:
- Essays, on-line and/or individual, class and study group learning activities.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
02. Identify, formulate, analyse and judge the success of standard form and text-based arguments, using appropriate methods of analysis and critical reasoning.
- Activities:
- Essays, on-line and/or individual, class and study group learning activities.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
03. Locate, review, analyse and synthesise unfamiliar ideas and lines of argument with an open mind and willingness to question and revise assumptions and change one's own views when appropriate.
- Activities:
- Essays, on-line and/or individual, class and study group learning activities.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
04. Write a carefully constructed essay in support of a philosophical claim.
- Activities:
- Essay writing, modelling, feedback on essay.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing)
Melbourne, 2015, Semester 1, Day
Overview
Online enrolment: Yes
Maximum enrolment size: N/A
Enrolment information:
Subject Instance Co-ordinator: Andrew Brennan
Class requirements
Lecture/SeminarWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours lecture/seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
Collaborative Based LearningWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.0 hours collaborative based learning every three weeks on any day including weekend during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay, 2000 words | 50 | 01, 02, 03, 04 | |
| Exam 2hr (1600 words) | 40 | 01, 02, 03, 04 | |
| On-line exercise (400 words) | 10 | 01, 02, 03 |