Discipline: Philosophy Degree Credit  [X]
Non Credit  [ ]
Nondegree Credit  [ ]
Comm Service  [ ]
 

Riverside Community College District
Integrated Course Outline of Record

Philosophy 22


COURSE DESCRIPTION
22 Philosophy of Science Units: 3.00
 
Prerequisite(s): None.

Advisory: Qualification for English 1A.
An examination of philosophical ideas about the nature of scientific knowledge, how it enables us to understand the world, and the role of values in science. Historical and current examples from the various sciences will be used to explore these questions. The dependence of contemporary policy and personal decisions on scientific knowledge will also be explored. 54 hours lecture.
 
SHORT DESCRIPTION FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
Introduction to philosophy of science and the role of science in contemporary society.
 
ADVISORY ENTRY SKILLS
Before entering the course, students will be able to:
  1. Write English at paragraph and essay level, including avoidance of egregious errors in grammatical usage and mechanics;

  2. Create coherent and unified paragraphs, short essays, and reports in response to assigned topics and prompts;

  3. Recognize key ideas in college level texts and employ critical thinking skills to the analysis of such texts in both discussion and written form.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
 Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

1.   Explain several different accounts of the nature of scientific 
      knowledge

2.   Compare and contrast different accounts of key features of
      scientific reasoning, including experiment, evidence, explanation,
      and prediction.

3.   Interpret particular episodes of scientific investigation and explain 
      how they illustrate features of scientific methodology.

4.   Critically analyze contemporary public policy debates that are
      informed by science, identifying the relevant philosophical issues.
 
COURSE CONTENT
  TOPICS
 
  1. The nature of scientific knowledge
    1. The problem of demarcation
    2. The difference between science and other human endeavors (e.g. religion, philosophy, art)
    3. Similarities and differences between the natural and social sciences
  2. Philosophical accounts of scientific explanation. Accounts explored may include:
    1. The deductive-nomological account
    2. Causal/statistical accounts of explanation
    3. Explanation as unity
  3. The relationship between evidence and theory
    1. The problem of induction
    2. Confirmation
  4. Science and values
    1.  Scientific objectivity
    2. Gender and science
  5. Policy questions, such as:
    1. The teaching of evolution
    2. Funding for science
    3. Genetic engineering
    4. Global warming
 
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
 Methods of instruction used to achieve student learning outcomes may include, but are not limited to:

  • Presentation of class lectures/discussions/demonstrations in order to familiarize students with the nature of science and basic concepts (explanation, prediction, and confirmation) that are the focus of analysis in the philosophy of science.
  • Creating small group activities in order discuss and interpret particular episodes of scientific investigation using different views about the nature of science.
  • Development and assignment of class exercises that require analysis and understanding of the texts and public debates revolving around science. 
  • Showing videos/films/recordings in order to focus discussion on the degree to which various political concepts and philosophies inform contemporary society.
  • Conducting individual conferences in order to illustrate episodes of scientific investigation and public debates.
  • Developing and assigning web-enhanced/online/distance learning tasks such as further reading, investigation of science information websites to deepen understanding of the role of pubic debate, peer review, and publication in scientific knowledge; discussion board postings that allow the student to express reasoned viewpoints about assigned topics.
  • Inviting guest lecturers to class in order to present contemporary debates about scientific knowledge and encourage independent and rational discussion of affected contemporary policy issues.
 
METHODS OF EVALUATION
 Students will be evaluated for progress in and/or mastery of learning outcomes by methods of evaluation which may include, but are not limited to:

  • Quizzes and examinations designed to evaluate ability to identify basic terms, concepts, and problems in philosophy of science; explain and evaluate different theoretical approaches to methodological issues in science and the arguments given in their support.
  • Written assignments designed to provide the opportunity to analyze texts, explain implications of different accounts of the nature of science, critically assess philosophical positions, and provide support for the claims made in these assignments. 
  • Group and individual projects designed to show evidence that students are able to identify and understand the role that debates about the nature of science play in current public debates about public policy decisions informed by science and that they are able to work with others to come to an understanding of different positions on these issues.
  • Final examination designed to demonstrate that students are able to explain key concepts, compare and contrast alternative accounts of scientific method and theory, and critically analyze past and current debates involving science and ideas about science.
ASSIGNMENTS

Required Reading Assignments


Required Writing Assignments


Other Outside-of-Class Assignments
 
COURSE MATERIALS
 All materials used in this course will be periodically reviewed to ensure that they are appropriate for college level instruction. Possible texts include:

  • Chalmers, A. F. . What Is This Thing Called Science? . 3 ed. Indianapolis: Hackett, 1999.
  • Klee, R. . Scientific Inquiry: Readings in the Philosophy of Science. NY: Oxford University Press, 1999.
  • Okasha, S. . Philosophy of Science. NY: Oxford University Press, 2002.
  • Potter, E. . Feminism and Philosophy of Science: An Introduction. NY: Routledge, 2006.
  • Rosenberg, A. . The Philosophy of Science: A Contemporary Introduction. NY: Routledge, 2000.
  • Rosenberg, A. and Y. Balashov. Philosophy of Science: Contemporary Readings. NY: Routledge, 2002.
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