Philosophy of the Sciences II

Code:

FILO035

Acronym:

FC_II

Instance: 2010/2011 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Philosophy
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Philosophy

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
FILO	66	FILO - Study Plan	2	-	6	4

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

While following the transformations of the social and cultural contexts of research after the 1960s, we aim to understand the reasons why new philosophy and epistemology were applied to the study of sciences. We will discuss the power and limits of socio-epistemological analysis and how they reshaped the image and the place of science within the cultural sphere. We will also seek to account for the necessary but difficult relationships between science and different segments of non-science.

Program

1-Trajectories of epistemology from the 20th century onwards
Module II
(Note: students are expected to have acquired a good understanding of the topics learned in Philosophy of Science I)
1.1.The evolution of the social context of scientific research in the 20th century. The previsions of Solla Price.
1.1.1. From R. Merton to J. Ziman: scientific ethos and its evolution
1.2. Sociological constructivism: socio-epistemology: the schools of Edinburg and Paris. Scientific objectivity and relativism.
1.2.1. The philosophical framework of socio-epistemology: R. Rorty and science as solidarity.
1.2.2. The limitations of socio-epistemology according to:
G. Hottois: between symbols and technoscience
R. Giere: a post-modern illuminist vision of science based on cognitivism
P. Kitcher: the advancement of science
1.2.3. Scientists and the philosophy of science. An epistemological controversy:
“science wars”. Its meaning and repercussions. The position of S. Weinberg.
2 - Ian Hacking and the philosophy of experience

Mandatory literature

NEWTON-SMITH, W., ; A companion to the philosophy of science, Blackwell, , 2001
J. Echeverrìa; Introdução à metodologia da Ciência, Capítulo 6 (Kuhn)
S. Okasha; ‘Realismo e anti-realismo’ (criticanarede)
Cláudio F. Costa ; ‘Teorias da verdade’ (Criticanarede).
Balashov e Rosemberg; Philosophy of Science
Laudan - Leplin; ‘Empirical Equivalence and Underdetermination’(PARTES) in Balashov e Rosemberg
S. Psillos; Scientific Realism: How Science Tracks Truth
T. Nagel; ‘The Cognitive Status of Theories’ (PARTES) in Balashov e Rosemberg

Complementary Bibliography

Barberousse – Kistler – Ludwig; A filosofia das ciências do século XX, Capítulos 4 (‘As leis da natureza’) e 5 (‘Explicação e causalidade’)
A. Fine; Unnatural Attitudes: Realist and Intrumentalist Attachments to Science
Laudan; ‘A Confutation of Convergent Realism’ (PARTES) in Balashov e Rosemberg

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theory-practical classes, combining lectures, commentaries of texts handed out in class, and use of transparencies (or the whiteboard) with interpretative graphs, audiovisual aids, etc.
Tutorials.

keywords

Humanities
Humanities > Philosophy

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Description	Type	Time (hours)	Weight (%)	End date
Attendance (estimated)	Participação presencial	56,00
	Exame	2,00		2011-07-15
	Total:	-	0,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Description	Type	Time (hours)	End date
	Estudo autónomo	104	2011-07-15
	Total:	104,00

Eligibility for exams

Attending 75% of classes.

Calculation formula of final grade

Weighted average sum of participation in class, written assignments and final exam

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Not applicable

Classification improvement

According to the regulations in force.

Observations

Not applicable