Philosophy of Science
course description

This course will explore what science is, what it does, and how it works.  We will examine:  the features of its methodology which distinguish science from pseudo-science; how theoretical considerations and experiments interact to shape the scientific picture of the world; how scientific theories evolve and how theories from different scientific disciplines are related; and whether science does or should purport to give us a literally true picture of the world.  We will consider not only what is peculiar to the culture of science, but also how this scientific culture fits into the culture of the larger society.