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Unit of study_
PHIL2670: Philosophy of Science
2022 unit information
In this unit we will explore philosophical questions about the nature of empirical science, including the nature of scientific explanations, scientific laws, and how evidence counts for or against a scientific theory. If observations are our best evidence for science then how can we establish the objective nature of empirical reality on that subjective basis Should we believe that our best scientific theories are true, or approximately true, or only predictively successful What does it take for a truth to count as a law of nature This unit explores these questions by engaging with works of historical and contemporary philosophers of science.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Philosophy
| Code | PHIL2670 |
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| Academic unit | Philosophy |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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12 credit points at 1000 level in Philosophy or History and Philosophy of Science HPSC |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. demonstrate familiarity with key texts in the philosophy of science
- LO2. critically evaluate theories concerning the scientific method, laws of nature, the relationships between different sciences, and scientific reasoning
- LO3. understand how concepts and theories in the philosophy of science relate to a variety of contemporary conceptual problems in science
- LO4. demonstrate skills in conceptual analysis and argument analysis
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
There are no availabilities for this year.
Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
