Philosophy of Science

6 EC

Semester 1, period 1

5354PHSC6Y

Owner Master Physics and Astronomy (joint degree)
Coordinator dr. Sebastian De Haro Ollé
Part of Master Logic, Master Logic, track Logic and Computation, Master Logic, track Logic and Philosophy, Master Logic, track Logic and Language, Master Logic, track Logic and Mathematics, Master Physics and Astronomy, track Theoretical Physics, Master Physics and Astronomy (joint degree), track General Physics and Astronomy,

Course manual 2025/2026

Study materials

Literature

  • M. Curd & J.A. Cover, Philosophy of Science, The Central Issues

Syllabus

  • On Canvas

Other

  • Papers posted on Canvas

Objectives

  • To acquire knowledge of central debates in contemporary philosophy of science at the master’s level.
  • Skills: handling primary literature in philosophy of science; presenting a text in class, if necessary in collaboration with a fellow student; to constructively debate a text at an academic level; to be able to concisely represent a text in short writing assignments.
  • Attitude: to be able to critically reflect upon scientific knowledge from a meta-perspective; to be able to approach a text analytically.

Teaching methods

  • Lecture
  • Presentation/symposium
  • Self-study

Learning activities

Activity

Hours

  

HC

14

  

WC

14

  

Self- study

140

  

Total

168

(6 EC x 28 uur)

Attendance

  • Some course components require compulsory attendance. If compulsory attendance applies, this will be indicated in the Course Catalogue which can be consulted via the UvA-website. The rationale for and implementation of this compulsory attendance may vary per course and, if applicable, is included in the Course Manual.

    • Assessment

    Item and weight Details

    Final grade

    1 (100%)

    Tentamen

    Assignments

    3 hand-ins (individual)

    Presentations are in groups

    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

    Weeknummer Onderwerpen Studiestof
    1

    What is science?  / Locical empiricism

    		 Chapter 1 (extracts) 
    2 Kuhn on scientific practice Chapter 2 (extracts)
    3 The Duhem-Quine thesis Chapter 3 (extracts)
    4 Explanation and understanding Chapter 6 (extracts) + de Regt and Dieks
    5 Scientific realism Chapter 9 (extracts)
    6 Scientific realism Psillos and Stanford
    7 Reduction and emergence Oppenheim & Putnam, Garfinkel
    8 Exam  

    Contact information

    Coordinator

    • dr. Sebastian De Haro Ollé

    Sebastian De Haro, s.deharo@uva.nl

    Staff

    • Aude Corbeel MSc
    • Eline de Jong