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Syllabus

POG0070 Philosophy of Science, Uppsala, 3.0 Credits

Education cycle

Postgraduate level

Grading scale

Prior knowledge

A couple of years experience of research desirable.

Objectives

The course aims at introducing the students to the topic of philosophy of science and to provide them with intellectual tools for further learning within that area. Learning outcomes After the course students should demonstrate the ability to: • understand the most central concepts in theory and philosophy of science • apply these ideas to one’s own field of research • Be aware of some key developments in the history of scientific inquiry • explain and discuss differences and similarities between different fields of inquiry (e.g. social sciences vs. natural sciences)

Content

Core concepts in philosophy of science: Hypothesis testing, inductivism, explanation and understanding, causation and correlation, positivism and falsificationism, hyopthetico-deductive method - Overview of the history of scientific inquiry: empiricism, rationalism - Natural science and social science - Science and pseudo-science: the demarcation debate

Additional information

Dates 2020:

September 17-18; 24-25; October 7-8; 14-15

Responsible department

Department of Crop Production Ecology