Office Hours:

MW 2:30-4, and by appointment.

If you need to reach me outside of office hours please email me or call my office number and leave a voice message—be sure to leave a phone number or email address at which you can be reached.

Texts:

Curd & Cover, Philosophy of Science: The Central Issues

Reading Schedule:

Click above to access reading schedule and links to reading questions.

News:

Rough Outline of Topics:
While helpful, no prior classes in science or philosophy are required.

Preliminaries

Some Logic

A Brief and Incomplete Historical Tour

Epistemology of Science
What is science and how do we know if it is any good?

(1) Science and Pseudoscience
How does science differ (if at all) from other institutionalized bodies of beliefs and practices (e.g., religions, political structures, supernatural beliefs)?

(2) Rationality, Objectivity, and Value
Are the formation, acceptance, and change of theories rational processes? If not, can they be? Are they objective processes? If not, can they be? What is required for rationality and objectivity in science? Are the sciences “value-free” or “value-laden”? Are the sciences inherently gender- or race-biased?

(3) Induction, Hypothesis, Prediction, and Evidence
What is evidence? What is a theory? How do we use the one to build, test, confirm, refute the other? How does science work? Does it? Why should we believe? Should we?

(4) Explanation and Laws
See below

Metaphysics of Science
What does science really tell us about the world? Really?

(4) Explanation and Laws
What and how does science contribute to our understanding of the world? Can science explain the universe? What would it mean to do so? What should we expect or require of it?

(5) Reduction
How do newer theories relate to older, rejected theories? How do the various special sciences relate? Are we just atoms in the void?

(6) Realism and its Discontents
Does Science give us a true picture of reality? Or does science simply give us a way of thinking about the world, a way of moving around in it—a sort of human construction, not really reflecting the underlying reality?

Responsibilities:

Reading. You are expected to read the assigned material before it is presented in class. This does not mean skimming. This means reading critically—making an earnest effort to understand what the author is saying, noting where you have questions, disagreements, confusions, etc. Feel free to write in the margins of your books, or, if you plan on selling them back, keep reading notes. This will help you in answering reading questions, participating in discussion, and writing papers (see below). You should always bring the relevant books to class.

Writing. There will be short writing assignments related to nearly every reading (though you will not be required to complete all of them). Often the best way to understand something (e.g.: a philosopher’s ideas, your own ideas) is to try to clearly write it out in your own words. This will prepare you for class discussion, and allows you to demonstrate your understanding of the material and your ability to approach it critically. There will be two longer papers, and the short writings also prepare you to do well on these. See below for more detail.

Discussion. This class will be focussed almost entirely around discussion (once in a while I shall lecture, but hopefully not for too long). Discussion will range from small-group activities to general class discussion. Even during the portions of class when I am lecturing, I encourage you to raise a hand, ask a question, and potentially start a class discussion. Consistent, thoughtful participation will positively affect your final grade. There are things I can do to ready you for discussion (such as the short writing assignments), but in the end it is up to you to go for it—the more discussion we have, the more fun the class will be.

Critical Thinking. If you are doing well in the above three areas, then you are probably doing well with critical thinking, too. What I mean by ‘critical thinking’ is not just the expression of opinions, likes, and dislikes. Anyone can say what they believe, or react to what another believes. In some cases (hopefully many cases) you will have strong feelings about what we are reading or discussing. These strong reactions are good, but they are only the beginning. We want to do more than just express our reactions. Thinking critically requires (1) clearly and accurately expressing the relevant claims, (2) examining and questioning (both the reasons for and consequences of) others’ and (especially) one’s own beliefs, (3) developing and being responsive to alternative views, (4) trying to support or reject such views on the basis of evidence and argument, and (5) being willing to accept the outcome of such inquiry.

Attendance. The only way you will do well in the four areas above is by consistently attending class. More than one or two absences will negatively affect your grade, both by impeding success in the areas above, and by negatively impacting my assignment of your final grade. When you have good reason for being absent from class you should communicate with me as soon as possible concerning your circumstances.

Short Writing Assignments:

Reading Questions. For most readings you will access from the web a set short-answer reading questions (RQs). You should read through this set of questions before reading the assignment, and have them next to you while reading. Approximately 3 to 5 questions of the set will be designated as assigned questions. You must type up your answers to the assigned questions and hand them in at the start of the class for which that reading is scheduled. The questions will be a mixture of simple exegetical and more challenging critical/evaluative questions. Length of answer will range roughly from 1 to 8 sentences, generally no more than a short paragraph, total length of all answers should not exceed one single-spaced page. You will also be asked to come up with some of your own questions (and answers) about the readings.
Click here for some notes concerning the writing and grading of RQ responses.

In-Class Writings. These (ICWs) are similar to RQs, except that you will be doing them in class and they are usually geared more toward working out your own ideas, as opposed to explaining the author’s. Usually you will be writing on your own, though we will have some small-group projects in which you may develop an outline.

RQs must be typewritten, and no more than 1 single-spaced page—no title page, no plastic cover, no title, just the name of the work read at upper left, your name at upper right. You must make 2 copies of your RQs, one to be handed in at start of class on the due date, one to keep in front of you during class. RQs will not be accepted late.

How many of these things do I have to do? There will be approximately 16-20 RQs. You do not have to do all of them. You must do at least 6 and no more than 8 (your best 6 will count toward your grade). Of the 6 to 8 you do, you must do at least one for each of the units numbered (1)-(6) in the outline above.—any other RQs you do are up to you. You may not do more than 8.
Click here for some notes concerning the writing and grading of RQ responses.

You must complete all In-Class Writings. If you are absent the day of an ICW, you will receive a zero for that assignment. Except for extreme circumstances, these cannot be made up. I will usually (but perhaps not always) announce ICWs the class before they will occur.

Papers: We will have two papers, one due around mid-term, one due at end of term. We will discuss these in detail when the time comes.

Logic Quiz: We will have a short Logic Quiz on Monday 9/4. The content of this quiz will be based on my lectures and the handout I give you.

Grading:

Logic Quiz—5% of Final Average.

Short Writings—30% of Final Average. Short writing assignments (RQs and ICWs) are graded on a 0 to 4 point scale, with 0 being unsatisfactory (F), 2 being satisfactory (C), 3 being good (B), and 4 being excellent (A). RQs will not be accepted late. Remember that you have some choice concerning which RQs you do. Also, you may do up to 2 more than the required 6 RQs, and only the best 6 will figure into your grade. ICWs cannot be made up.
Click here for some notes concerning the writing and grading of RQ responses.

Midterm Paper—30% of Final Average, Final Paper—35% of Final Average.

Final Grade will be determined by your Final Average and factors such as attendance, discussion participation, and improvement over the semester.

Other Things:

Please be on time to class. It is impolite and distracting to walk into class once it has already begun. Please do not start putting your books and papers away until the class is actually over. This, too, is impolite and distracting. In fact, I really hate both of these behaviors, so if you want to stay on my good side… Having said that, I realize that people are sometimes late. It is likely that I will be late at least once. Keep it to a minimum. If ever you know that you will be late, miss class, or have to leave early, let me know ahead of time.

Use my office hours. I will be in my office, or in the P&R Department in Hascall Hall, during the allotted time. This time is set aside for you, do not be timid, do not feel as if you are intruding upon me. We can, of course, make appointments to meet at other times, days, or places.

The more you communicate with me—regarding how quickly the class is moving, how difficult the assignments are, whether you will be late or miss a class, whether you are having trouble, etc.—the more smoothly the semester will go for all of us. Never hesitate to ask a question in class, even if you must interrupt me to do so. Never hesitate to approach me before, after, or outside of class.

[ Top of Page |  Colgate Home |  P & R Home |  PHL 228 Home |  Reading Schedule |  Dr. Gregory’s Home |  email Dr. Gregory ]