2005/06 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HPSC2205 Introduction to Theories and Observations in Science

10 creditsClass Size: 100

Module manager: Steven French

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2005/06

Pre-requisites

Either HPSC1200 How Science Works or PHIL1010 Reason and Argument and PHIL1400 Introduction To Theoretical Philosophy

This module is mutually exclusive with

HPSC2330 Theories and Observation in Science HPSC2202 Theories and Observation in Science

Module replaces

HPSC2330

This module is approved as an Elective

Objectives

On completion of this module students should be able to describe and critically assess a variety of views concerning:

a) the relationship between theories and observation in general;
b) the nature and role of confirmation and falsification in science;
c) the nature and role of laws and models in science;
d) the nature of observation and experimentation in general.

Syllabus

i) The Received View of Theories and the Nature of Laws of Nature
The 'Received View' of theories; the difference between laws and regularities; laws necessity and causality.

ii) Explanation in Science
The 'Deductive-Nomological' view of explanation; problems with the D-N view; causal accounts of explanation; explanation and models.

iii) Verification and Falsification
Logical positivism and verifiability; from verification to confirmation; falsifiability; recent accounts of confirmation in science.

iv) Phenomenological Laws and the Epistemology of Experiment
Truth and the nature of phenomenological laws; the autonomy of models; the separate life of experiment.

Teaching methods

Lectures: 16 x 1 hour;

Tutorials: 4 x 1 hour.

Private study

3 hours reading and preparation per lecture: 48 hours;
3 hours reading and preparing per tutorial: 12 hours.
Essay preparation: 20 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Verbal feedback in seminars and written feedback on essay plan.

Methods of assessment

1 x 2000 word essay: 100%.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 20/09/2006

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