Subject Area: Philosophy

Are electrons or other subatomic particles real? Does science lead to reliable knowledge? Is science objective? Is there such a thing as scientific method? Is Darwinian evolution "just a theory"? Is Creation Science a science or religion? What about astronomy and astrology? In addressing these sorts of questions we cannot just do more science, we have to reflect on the nature of science. We need to do philosophy of science. This course introduces you to philosophy of science which may involve inquiry into the nature and development of concepts, laws and theories, and also into the character of explanation and prediction in the natural and social sciences. The course will examine some philosophical problems concerning scientific method and scientific knowledge. Different teachers will focus on different sciences such as mathematics, physics, ecology and biology and the social sciences.