Philosophy of Science

Course manual 2024/2025

Course content

In this course, we will critically reflect on science as a knowledge-generating practice. What are we actually up to in science, and how does that differ from other ways of trying to understand or navigate the world? What (if anything) explains the special kind of status or authority that science is often taken to have? What counts as good evidence for something’s being true? How do scientific theories and explanations operate? In what sense (if any) should science be understood as rational or objective? How should we understand the ways in which science changes over time? What role do values play in scientific practice, and how should science relate to society more broadly?

These are big and complicated philosophical questions at the heart of science (and they are only made more challenging by the scale, complexity, and interdisciplinary nature of the problems FPS is trying to grapple with). The goal of the course is to develop some preliminary conceptual and argumentative tools to help you think through such questions carefully so that you are equipped to be a reflective participant in science throughout the rest of your studies and career.

Study materials

Other

• Study materials will be made available via Canvas.

Objectives

• Students can recognize different models, perspectives, and paradigms that are used across a broad range of sciences.
• Students can describe underlying assumptions behind these approaches, how they differ, and their implications for the research practice.
• Students can integrate various scientific approaches in a comprehensive way, in order to address complex global problems.
• Students can deploy a range of conceptual tools in order to analyze and critically evaluate the role of science in addressing complex global problems.
• Students expand their academic and critical thinking skills (including writing and self-reflection).

Teaching methods

• Self-study
• Seminar
• Lecture

Each week will consist of one joint class/lecture and one workgroup. The joint class will introduce and frame the core questions, concepts, and arguments of that week's theme, and the workgroups will function to further expand and interrogate the material. While the joint class will be interactive, the workgroups will provide more space, in a smaller setting, for students to discuss the material.

Separate readings will be assigned to prepare for the the joint class and the workgroups. Students will also need to submit a preparatory assignment prior to each workgroup (which may draw on any of the readings or joint class material, more info below).

Learning activities

Attendance

Programme's requirements concerning attendance (OER-B):

• Participation in fieldwork is compulsory and cannot be replaced by assignments or other courses.
• In case of practical sessions, the student is obliged to attend at least of 90% of the sessions and to prepare himself adequately, unless indicated otherwise in the course manual. In case the student attends less than 90%, the practical sessions should be redone entirely.
• In case of tutorials/seminars with assignments, the student is obliged to attend at least 7 out of 8 seminars and to prepare thoroughly for these meetings, unless indicated otherwise in the course manual. If the course has more than 8 seminars, the student can miss up to 1 extra meeting for every (part of) 8 tutorials/seminars. If the students attends less than the mandatory tutorials/seminars, the course cannot be completed.

Additional requirements for this course:

Attendance at the workgroups will be strictly enforced. If a student misses two workgroups, they will be graded with an NAP. Students must submit their preparatory assignments by the deadline in order to have their attendance counted in the workgroup. If you are facing a situation which prevents timely submission, talk to your workgroup leader in advance to see what can be arranged.

Assessment

Assessment for the course will consist of three elements:

• Selected Preparatory Assignment 1 (20%)
• Selected Preparatory Assignment 2 (20%)
• Final Exam (60%)

As mentioned above, students will need to prepare a short assignment for each workgroup. Two of the six preparatory assignments that students submit during the course will be selected by the teaching staff to be graded (you will not know in advance which are selected for grading, so you will need to prepare each as if it will be). Students must average at least a 5.5 over the two assignments in order to pass.

The final exam will be a closed-book, digital exam. It will cover the entire course and will consist of mainly short-answer questions (but may include some other question types, e.g., multiple choice, T/F, fill in the blank, etc.)

If students score < 5.5 on the exam and/or on the average of the two preparatory assignments, they will have the chance to resit the relevant element(s).

Assignments

• Preparatory Assignments: For each week's workgroup, you will be given a prompt to structure your thinking about the topic/readings. These will also help guide workgroup discussion. They will require about 500 words of work. Specific instructions for each week's preparatory assignment will be posted on Canvas in the "assignments" tab.
• Final Exam: If you have done the readings carefully, paid close attention in the joint classes, prepared the preparatory assignments thoughtfully, and participated actively in the workgroups, you should be prepared for success on the final. If you haven't done these things, you may find it challenging. More details on the format and studying strategies will be posted on Canvas or discussed in class.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Additional information

It is important that everyone feels safe at the UvA and Future Planet Studies. We are committed to provide social safety and we offer various forms of support for people experiencing inappropriate or unsafe situations. Consult the UvA website or Future Planet Studies Canvas page for more information and contact info.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. Colin Hickey PhD

The workgroup teachers are:

Merel Talbi (m.m.talbi@uva.nl)

Njal van Woerden (a.n.vanwoerden@uva.nl)

Sven van Mourik (s.vanmourik@uva.nl)