PHIL 638 - Philosophy and Science: The Open Questions

(3 units)

This course examines philosophical questions, such as “What is Life?”, as they relate to the history of scientific developments. Selected issues and topics related to scientific revolutions, theories, and discoveries are explored from philosophical, historical, and other interdisciplinary perspectives. (HIST 480A and PHIL 438 are cross-listed; credit may be earned in one of the two.)

Maximum units a student may earn: 3

Grading Basis: Graded
Units of Lecture: 3
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. write a lengthy historiographical analysis or research paper in which historiography figures prominently.
2. identify the main themes of the field in individual and group discussions.
3. analyze examples of major secondary works in the field.
4. identify and explain selected topics in scientific revolutions, theory choice, discovery, relation of history, philosophy, sociology and psychology of science.
5. analyze and critically review the relationship between philosophy and the history of science, and make an original research contribution to an intersecting subject area.

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