Alma College
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PHL305: Philosophy of Science
email: hauser@alma.edu
Office:  SAC 347 Phone: 7219
INSTRUCTOR: 
Larry Hauser
Virtual Office:
http://members.aol.com/lshauser/virtoff.html
Office Hrs: 
MWF 11-12:20 and by appointment
Philosophyof Science
TEXTS (required)
CLASS DESCRIPTION
This class considers of the nature of science in the light of contemporary challenges to its objectivity and contemporary (and other) pretenders to the name "science", with special attention to the "Creation Science" v. evolution controversy.  What, if anything, justifies the view that science is the most objective source -- even an objective source -- of human knowledge?  What , if anything, makes scientific claims true and underwrites sciences' claims to knowledge of the phenomena they catalog and explain?  What differentiates science from nonscience (e.g., myth and poetry) and pseudoscience (e.g., astrology)?  What of various self-styled scientific contenders as Psychoanalysis, Marxism-Leninism, and Creationism: science or psuedo?   How are different  sciences (physics, biology, etc.) and types of sciences (physical, biological, social) alike; in what do they differ; and how are they related?   Rival (positivist, Popperian, Kuhnian, and other) accounts of science are developed and applied to the understanding of scientific practice and the illumination of the surrounding issues.

GRADES WILL BE BASED ON

ASSIGNMENT
DUE DATES & EXPLANATIONS
 VALUE
2 Midterm Examinations
Wednesday, Oct. 9 | Wednesday, Nov. 6
 2/5 of course
7 Commentaries
Nov. 13 - Dec. 4
1/5 of course
Term Paper
at slated time for final examination
1/5 of course
Class Participation
contribution in-class discussion & online discussion*
1/5 of course

*Online Forum: http://www.alma.edu:9800/WebX?14@5.89bUajINa6o.1@.ee6bddf


 
APPROXIMATE COURSE CALENDAR
Class regularly meets 2:30-3:50 MW in SAC 108 (note exceptions below) 
MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
Sept. 1
no class
Sept. 3
Science as an Intellectual Activity
 O'Hear 1-11
11am: Opening
Convocation
Sept. 6
Induction
O'Hear 22-34
Sept. 10
Falsification
O'Hear  35-44
Sept. 12
Sept. 13
Bayesianism
O'Hear 44-53
Sept. 17
Science & Nonscience
O'Hear  54-64
Sept. 19
Sept.20
Kuhnian Relativism
O'Hear 64-81
Sept. 24
Observation & Theory
O'Hear  82-94
Sept. 26
Sept. 27
Empiricism
O'Hear  94-105
Oct. 1
Scientific Realism
O'Hear  106-129
Oct. 3
Oct. 4
Absolutism
O'Hear  130-143
Oct. 8
Midterm 1
Oct. 10
Oct. 11
 Probability
O'Hear 144-155
Oct. 15
Warp Week ergo
No Class
Oct. 17
Oct. 18
Interpretaions
O'Hear 155-176
Oct. 22
Scientific Reductions
O'Hear 177-185
Oct. 24
Oct. 25
Criteria for Reductions
O'Hear 186-201
Oct. 29
Science & Culture
O'Hear 202-216
Oct. 31
Last day to drop.
Technology & Value
O'Hear 216-232
Nov. 5
Midterm 2
Nov. 7
Nov. 8
Creation Stories S&T
Pennock ix-xviii
Nov. 12
Evolution & Design
reading to be assigned
Nov. 14
Nov. 15
Creation v. Evolution
Pennock 1-42
 Nov. 19
The Evidence for Evolution
Pennock 43-109
Nov. 21
Nov. 22
The Tower of Babel
Pennock 117-180
 Nov. 26
Of Naturalism & Negativity
Pennock 181-214
Nov. 28
Thanksgiving Day
Nov. 29
Thanksgiving Recess
Chariots of the Gods
Pennock 215-276
Dec. 3
Deus ex Machina
Pennock 277-308
Dec. 5
Dec. 6
Dec. 9
Finals Week
 Dec. 10
Finals Week
Dec. 11
Finals Week
Dec. 12
Finals Week
Term Papers Due:
Discussion
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY

Final Examination Schedule
http://www.alma.edu/services/registrar/exams.php
Alma College Academic Integrity Policy
http://www.alma.edu/offices/studentaffairs/section1.php#Academic Integrity
Alma 2002 Academic Calendar
http://www.alma.edu/services/registrar/calendar.php

My classroom is rated R: lectures & discussion may include adult themes and language.