Παρουσίαση/Προβολή

(PHS587) -  C. Mantzavinos

Περιγραφή Μαθήματος

What do we mean, when we say that we can explain a phenomenon? What are good explanations? What is the connection between theory and evidence? Is the aim to explain the social world after a manner worked out for the natural world or to understand the social world from within? How should one understand the proposition that an increase in price causes a decrease in the demanded quantity of a good? Or to put it more provocatively: what differentiates a scientific theory from a fairy tale? Does our knowledge advance over time and if yes, how? What is the relation between theory and praxis? The course will provide answers to all these questions.

 

The objective of the course is to teach students to reflect philosophically about the fundamental methodological problems of science. The course will focus on the philosophical problems that emerge when scientists engage in epistemic activities. Since there are seminars dealing with the problems of the specific sciences, the course will provide an introduction into the general philosophy of science. The first part will deal with the traditional conceptions of philosophy of science by discussing material from the works of Popper, Albert, Kuhn, Lakatos, Feyearabend and Kitcher. The second part will deal with the following topics: causation; explanation; scientific realism; science and values.

Ημερομηνία δημιουργίας

Τρίτη 18 Ιουλίου 2023