Textbooks:
[TR] Peter Godfrey-Smith (2003) Theory and Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science (required)
[SR] Thomas Kuhn (2012) [1962] The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (required).
Further readings also available on Blackboard.

1. Intro. to Philosophy of Science

Wk Date Topic Reading Due Coursework Due Quiz
1.1 Jan 12 Introduction TR Ch 1 - -
1.2 Jan 14 History of Science / Semmelweis TR Ch 1.5, Hempel Ch 2 - -
2.1 Jan 19 NO CLASS (MLK) - - -
2.2 Jan 21 Logical Positivism TR Ch 2.1-2.3 HW 1 -
3.1 Jan 26 Logical Empiricism TR Ch 2.4-2.5 - -
3.2 Jan 28 Induction and Confirmation TR Ch 3 HW 2 -
4.1 Feb 2 Explanation (D-N) TR Ch 13.1-13.2, Hempel Ch 5 - -
4.2 Feb 4 Explanation TR Ch 13, SEP Woodward 5.1-5.3, 6.1-6.2 HW 3 -
5.1 Feb 9 Popper TR Ch 4 - -
5.2 Feb 11 Popper / Papers - HW 4 -

2. Kuhn's Historical Turn

Wk Date Topic Reading Due Coursework Due Quiz
6.1 Feb 16 NO CLASS (Pres.) - - -
6.2 Feb 18 Normal Science SR Ch 1-5, TR Ch 5 - QUIZ 1
7.1 Feb 23 Revolution SR Ch 6-8, TR Ch 6 - -
7.2 Feb 25 Guest: Jon Lawhead SR Ch 9--10 HW 5 -
8.1 Mar 2 Progress and Revolutions SR Ch 11--13 HW 6 -
8.2 Mar 4 Jon Lawhead: Climate Science - - -
9.1 Mar 9 Revolutions and Rationality TR Ch 6 - -
9.2 Mar 11 Reactions TR Ch 7 HW 7 -

3. The Mainstream and its Discontents

Wk Date Topic Reading Due Coursework Due Quiz
10.1 Mar 23 Scientific Realism TR Ch 12 PAPER 1 -
10.2 Mar 25 Scientific Realism Fine (1991) HW 8 QUIZ 2
11.1 Mar 30 Scientific Realism McMullin (1991) (S1-3) - -
11.2 Apr 1 Naturalism TR Ch 10 HW 9 -
12.1 Apr 6 Bayesian Approaches TR Ch 14 - -
12.2 Apr 8 Social Structure TR Ch 11 HW 10 -
13.1 Apr 13 Social Structure TR Ch 11 - -
13.2 Apr 15 Sociology of Science TR Ch 8 HW 11 -
14.1 Apr 20 Sociology of Science - - -
14.2 Apr 22 Feminism and Science Studies TR Ch 4 - QUIZ 3
15.1 Apr 27 Feminism and Science Studies - - -
15.2 Apr 27 TBA TR Ch 4 PAPER 2 -