Stanford University: Philosophy 60/HPS 60

Introduction to History and

Philosophy of Science

Peter Godfrey-Smith

Spring 2000/2001

Meetings:

MWF, 11.00-11.50. Bldg 60-61H.

Office Hours:

T 3.00-5.00. Or by appointment. Bldg 90 Room 92B.

How to Contact me:

Email: pgs@csli.stanford.edu.

Grading:

Approximately: Final exam 30%, paper 30%, midterm 20%, section 20%.

Exams:

Midterm: Take-home.

Distributed: April 25, in class

Due: April 30, in class.

Final: Take-home.

Distributed: June 6, in class.

Due: June 12, at my office at 5.00 pm.

Each exam will ask you to write two short essays.

Papers:

One paper, 8-10 pages double spaced.

Due: Wednesday, May 23, in class.

Sections

Attendance is compulsory. Each student will give a presentation and lead discussion on that topic in section, for about 15 minutes. Topics will be chosen in consultation with your TA. Both this presentation and your overall contribution to discussion in sections will affect your final grade.

Late Papers etc:

Late take-home exams without documentation of a major emergency will be penalized by a grade per day (Example: A becomes B after 1 day).

Late papers penalized by a part of a grade per day (A becomes A-).

Incompletes only given in extreme cases.

Required Texts:

Ayer, A. J., Language, Truth and Logic ("LTL").

Rothbart, D, (ed.) Science, Reason and Reality ("SRR").

Kuhn, T. S., The Structure of Scientific Revolutions ("Structure").

Philosophy 60 Course Reader.

Recommended: A second course reader called Theory and Reality

All are available at the bookstore.

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Program

1. Wed. April 4: Introduction and Formalities.

2. Fri. April 6: Three sample theories.

3. Mon. April 9: Logical Positivism

Reading: Ayer LTL chapters 1, 2.

(Note that the "Introduction" is not chapter 1.)

4. Wed. April 11: More on Logical Positivism.

Reading: Ayer LTL chapter 4, 5.

5. Fri. April 13: Logical Positivism and Logical Empiricism.

Reading: Carnap selections in the Reader.

Recommended: As much of the rest of LTL as you want to read.

6. Mon. April 16: Confirmation and Induction -- The Old Problems.

Reading: Reichenbach "Predictive Knowledge" and "Interlude" in the Reader.

7. Wed. April 18: Confirmation and Induction -- Goodman's Problem.

Reading: Goodman selections from "The New Riddle of Induction," in the Reader.

8. Fri. April 20: Popper.

Reading: Popper "Science: Conjectures and Refutations" in SRR.

9. Mon. April 23: More on Popper.

Optional: Popper "The Rationality..." in SRR.

10. Wed. April 25: Kuhn on Normal Science.

Reading: Structure pp. 1-51.

* Midterm distributed, in class.

11. Fri. April 27: Kuhn on Anomaly and Crisis.

Reading: Structure pp. 52-91.

12. Mon. April 30: Revolutions!

Reading: Structure pp. 92-135.

* Midterm due, in class.

13. Wed. May 2: Resolutions and Progress.

Reading: Structure pp. 136-173.

Recommended: Structure pp. 174-210.

Kuhn "Objectivity..." in SRR.

14. Fri. May 4: Beyond Kuhn I -- Lakatos.

Reading: Lakatos "History of Science..." in SRR.

15. Mon. May 7: Beyond Kuhn II -- Anarchism!

Reading: Feyerabend "Consolations for the Specialist" in the Reader.

Horgan selections in the Reader.

16. Wed. May 9: Relativism and the Sociology of Scientific Knowledge.

Reading: Latour selections in SRR.

McKenzie "Introduction" in the Reader.

Optional: Barnes and Bloor "Relativism, Rationalism..." in SRR.

17. Fri. May 11: Naturalism and the Debate about Observation.

Recommended: Hanson "Observation" in SRR.

18. Mon. May 14: Scientific Realism.

Reading: Van Fraassen "Arguments Concerning..." in SRR.

19. Wed. May 16: More on Scientific Realism.

Recommended: Giere "Constructive Realism" and McMullin "A Case..." in SRR.

20. Fri. May 18: Case Study, Part I -- Background.

Reading: Provine selection in the Reader.

21. Mon. May 21: Case Study, Part II -- The Biometricians.

Reading: Galton "Typical Laws of Heredity" in the Reader.

22. Wed. May 23: Case Study, Part III -- The Rediscovery of Mendelism.

Reading: Bateson "Problems of Heredity" in the Reader.

* Paper due, in class.

23. Fri. May 25: Case Study, Part IV -- The Climax.

Reading: Weldon selections and report from Nature in the Reader.

24. Mon. May 28: Memorial Day: no classes.

25. Wed. May 30: Case Study, Part V -- The Sociological Analysis.

Reading: McKenzie selection in the Reader.

26. Fri. June 1: End-quarter period starts. PGS away. TBA.

27. Mon. June 4: Wrap-up of Case Study

28. Wed. June 6: Revision and Discussion.

* Final exam distributed.

29. Tuesday June 12: Final exam due, 5.00 pm at my office.

If you are handing the exam in late, get it signed in by one of the Philosophy Department secretaries.