PHI 250 - Philosophy of Science

An examination of two different models generally used in approaching scientific activity philosophically: the logical model and the historical model. Questions to be raised include whether these two approaches are mutually exclusive or whether one can subsume the other, and at what cost. Issues to be covered include description vs. explanation; scientific vs. non-scientific explanation; the issue of whether to include pragmatic and psychological dimensions of meaning in scientific explanations; the question of whether all facts are “theory-laden”; and the relationship between facts, laws, and theories in science.

Prerequisite(s):
Co-requisite(s):
Credits: 3

Course Typically Offered:
Course Type: Philosophy