UNSW Handbook Course - Science Good, Bad and Bogus

Science Good, Bad and Bogus - HPSC1200


	Faculty: Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
	School: School of History and Philosophy of Science
	Contact: Slezak,Peter Paul
	Campus: Kensington Campus
	Career: Undergraduate
	Units of Credit: 6
	EFTSL: 0.125 (more info)
	Contact Hours per Week: 3
	Enrolment Requirements:
	Excluded: HPST1003, HPST1108
	Session Offered: See Class Timetable
	Fee Band: 1 (more info)

Description

What is science? What are its distinctive characteristics as a form of inquiry? Why are astrology, 'creationism' or parapsychology widely considered to be pseudosciences? A critical consideration of such inquiries raises central questions concerning the nature of science, involving issues such as the nature of observation and evidence, theories and laws, explanation and prediction, etc. Issues to be considered include the 'Galileo Affair', 'science vs. religion' and relativism. These are placed in an historical context from the Ancient Greeks to twentieth-century philosophers. Also considered are the nature of scientific revolutions and 'postmodern' approaches to science.

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will:

Understand some of the most important arguments in philosophy today about the nature of science, including those of Hume, Kant, Wittgenstein, Popper, Kuhn, and Feyerabend
Be able to apply these alternate theories of science to questions about whether unorthodox or borderline thought systems such as Intelligent Design and astrology constitute science or pseudo-science
Be capable of thinking critically about the respective merits of these philosophical definitions of science, and the consequences of accepting each of them
Be capable of independently using these concepts in thinking critically about novel claims they may encounter about what knowledge is scientific and what is not
Learn general skills in analytical argument and both oral and written presentation.

Assessment

Tutorials (two presentations, participation) - 30%
Two in-class tests - 40% (20% each)
Major essay (3000 words) - 30%

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