2005/06 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
HPSC2201 Progress and Revolutions in Science
20 creditsClass Size: 100
Module manager: Steven French
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2005/06
Pre-requisites
Either HPSC1200 How Science Works or PHIL1010 Reason and Argument and PHIL1400 Introduction to Theoretical PhilosophyThis module is mutually exclusive with
HPSC2320 Progress and Revolutions in ScienceModule replaces
HPSC2320 Progress and Revolutions in ScienceThis module is approved as an Elective
Objectives
On completion of this module students should be able to describe and critically assess:a) 'cumulative' accounts of scientific progress in general;
b) Kuhn's analysis of the structure of scientific revolutions;
c) responses to Kuhn's analysis and further developments;
d) alternative accounts of scientific progress.
Syllabus
i) The Cumulative View of Scientific Progress
The notion of progress in general; the General Correspondence Principle.
ii) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
The nature of 'normal' science; the nature and role of 'paradigms'; the structure of scientific revolutions; incommensurability, natural kinds and 'different worlds'.
iii) Accomodating Revolutions I
Lakatos and the 'Methodology of Scientific Research Programmes'; hard cores and heuristics; Feyerabend's critique; Laudan's 'Reticulated Model'; the inter-relationships between aims, methodology and theories; Worrall's critique.
iv) Accomodating Revolutions II
Incommensurability and meaning; the causal theory of reference; progress, revolutions and realism.
Teaching methods
Lectures: 16 x 1 hour;
Tutorials: 4 x 1 hour.
Private study
6 hours reading and preparing per lecture: 96 hours;6 hours reading and preparing per tutorial: 24 hours;
Essay preparation: 30 hours;
Exam revision: 30 hours.
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
1 x 1500 word essay to be submitted mid-semester and returned with comments.Methods of assessment
1 x 2000 word essay (50%);
1 x 2 hour exam at end of semester (50%).
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 20/09/2006
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