This module is inactive in the selected year. The information shown below is for the academic year that the module was last running in, prior to the year selected.

2016/17 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PHIL3201 Realism and Representation in Science

20 creditsClass Size: 35

Module manager: Dr. Juha Saatsi
Email: j.t.saatsi@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2016/17

Pre-requisite qualifications

Any Level 2 PHIL module, and Level 1 PHIL1009 Intro to Philosophy of Science.

This module is mutually exclusive with

HPSC3201	Realism and Truth in Science
HPSC3800	Realism & The Metaphysics Of S

Module replaces

HPSC3201 Realism and Truth in Science

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The scientific realism debate concerns the status of scientific beliefs that are about things that are inaccessible to our naked senses. Are we justified in believing our best theories about the structure of the DNA, the electron, or the big bang? What should we make of the fact that the history of science is littered with successful but false theories? What should we make of the fact that mathematics is indispensable for our best science? This module looks at various positions and arguments regarding such key questions in the epistemology of science. We also look at some closely related issues concerning the way in which science represents the world with its theories and models.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to describe and critically assess:

a) different types of evidence for and against various scientific realist positions;
b) a variety of views concerning the way in which scientific theories represent the world.

Syllabus

A selection of topics from the current scientific realism debate, including some of the following:
- Evidence for realism: success of science, Galilean strategy, experiments and instruments;
- Evidence against realism: underdetermination arguments; pessimistic Induction;
- Theories, models and representation: idealization, approximate and 'partial' truth;
- Scientific vs. mathematical realism: indispensability argument.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	11	2.00	22.00
Private study hours			178.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

9 hours reading and preparing per seminar: 99 hours;
Essay preparation: 79 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

1 x 2,000 word coursework essay, submitted mid-semester.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,000 words	50.00
Essay	2,000 words	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 07/09/2016

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

• Undergraduate module catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
• Undergraduate programme catalogue
• Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD