Science 240 Fall 1998

The Nature Of Scientific Thought

Information on the Midterm Exam

Information on the Final Exam

Instructors:

Anne Hiskes: Associate Professor of Philosophy
Office: 204 Manchester Hall
Phone: 486-3676; 486-4416
E-mail: Ahiskes@uconnvm.uconn.edu
Office Hours: MW 2:00-4:00 and by appointment.
Kent Holsinger: Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
Office: 112 Torrey Life Science Building
Phone: 486-4059
E-mail: kent@darwin.eeb.uconn.edu
Office Hours: by arrangement

We will update the syllabus as the semester progresses, and we will also make copies of assignments and handouts available on the web site two days after they have been handed out in class. We may also add links to other sites on the web with information relevant to class lectures, so we encourage you to visit this site frequently.

Required Texts:

  1. Kosso, Peter. Reading the Book of Nature. (Abbreviated as BN)
  2. Kosso, Peter. Appearance and Reality: An Intro. to Phil. of Physics. (Abbreviated as A&R)
  3. Kuhn, Thomas. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions.
  4. Keller, Evelyn Fox. A Feeling for the Organism.
  5. Sober, Elliot. The Philosophy of Biology.
  6. Essays on reserve at the library.

It is important that you keep up with assigned readings. You should read each assignment before the lecture. If this is not possible, read the assignment within a day or two. Most of the assigned readings will be from the texts, but occasionally an assignments will be on reserve in the library.

Course Goals And Format

  1. To think critically and analytically about the aims and methods of science
  2. To become aquainted with some central philosophical issues concerning scientific inquiry in general, and with some issues motivated by 20th-century developments in physics and biology.
  3. To develop skills of critically evaluating different positions and developing arguments in defense of a position.

Issues of special concern include the following:

  1. Is scientific knowledge limited to what can be observed?
  2. What does quantum mechanics tell us about the nature of reality and the limits of science?
  3. Can the scientific method overcome the influence of personal and collective biases?
  4. What do the work and life of Barbara McClintock tell us about the scientific process?
  5. Are there any important differences between the methods of biology and those of physics?

Professor Hiskes will teach Sections I,II, and III of the course which deals with the aims and limits of scientific inquiry and the philosophical implications of quantum mechanics. Professor Holsinger will teach Sections IV and V of the course which deals with some key concepts and issues from the life sciences.

Course Requirements And Grades:

  1. 5 short home-work assignments, each worth 3%, for a total of 15%.
  2. 4 formal discussion papers of 3-5 pages, 2 worth 10% and 2 worth 15% for a total of 50%.
    Paper #1 (10%) is due Monday Sept. 28. Paper #2 (15%) is due Monday Oct. 26. Paper #3 (15%) is due Monday Nov. 16, Paper #4 (10%) is Monday Dec. 14.
  3. Midterm test: Monday Oct. 19 15% of the course grade.
  4. Final exam: Monday Dec. 21. 20% of the course grade.
  5. Faithful attendance and class participation are important for doing well.

Homework: The homework will be very useful to you in preparing to write your papers and answer test questions, and you will have a chance to discuss your answers in class.

Homework questions frequently show up again as test questions. To receive credit for a homework assignment, you must hand it in on the due date, and be present in class that day for the discussion. You will have 6 homework assignments, and the lowest grade will be dropped. Homework will be evaluated as "Check-plus" (Excellent) "Check" (satisfactory, but needs some work), or "check-minus" (Poor, quite confused and/or shows lack of effort). These marks will translate as A,B, and C respectively.

Tests: Tests will consist of a mixture of short answer questions, and one or two discussion questions. There are no make-up tests, except in cases of verified illnesses or family emergencies. Tests will be based on the discussion/study questions that are periodically given out.

Papers: The papers will ask you to address a specific question or issue, and will require you to analyze and critically evaluate material from the readings and lectures. Late papers will be penalized one grade (e.g. from a B to a B-) per class-day late.

Course Outline

1. Wed. 9/2. Introduction to the course

  1. Aims and Methods of Science -- Fri. 9/4 through Mon. 9/21 (Prof. Hiskes)
  2. Physics and Reality -- Wed. 9/23 through Wed. 10/14 (Prof. Hiskes)
  3. Paradigms and Scientific Change -- Fri. 10/16 through Fri. 10/30 (Prof. Hiskes)
  4. The Case of Barbara McClintock: Kuhn vs. Realists; Reductionists vs. Holists -- Mon. 11/2 through Wed. 11/11 (Prof. Holsinger)
  5. Evolutionary Theory and the Nature of Science -- Fri. 11/13 through Mon. 12/14 (Prof. Holsinger)
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Last modified: Fri Aug 28 14:10:51 EDT 1998