Philosophy of Science
STS 202
Fall 2025
| Section:
01
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| Crosslisting:
PHIL 297 |
This course is a fast-moving introduction to some central topics in the philosophy of science, aimed at students with some college-level study of at least one natural science. Topics include the norms of scientific understanding or explanation; the relation between finished theories or explanations and ongoing research; the recognition and dissemination of discoveries; the justification of scientific claims; conceptual and technical (revolutionary) change in the science; the significance of instrumentation, experiment, and artifice in science; the places of laws, models, and causal relations in scientific understanding; and whether various sciences differ fundamentally in their aims, methods, and achievements. Considerable attention will be given to examples of scientific practice, both historical and contemporary. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
HA STS |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Student Option |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (Informatics and Modeling Minor)(Science and Technology Studies) |
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Past Enrollment Probability: 75% - 89% |
| SECTION 01 |
Major Readings: Wesleyan RJ Julia Bookstore
Carl Hempel, PHILOSOPHY OF NATURAL SCIENCE Thomas Kuhn, THE STRUCTURE OF SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTIONS Ian Hacking, REPRESENTING AND INTERVENING Plus reserve reading on-line.
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Examinations and Assignments:
One take-home expository/comparative essay, two medium-length papers, short ungraded papers weekly; informed participation in class discussion |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
This is a required course for students in the Science in Society Program (Philosophy of Science) and a core "Mind and Reality" course in Philosophy, but is not limited to SISP or Philosophy students. |
| Instructor(s): Rouse,Joseph Times: ..T.R.. 10:20AM-11:40AM; Location: TBA |
| Total Enrollment Limit: 33 | | SR major: 12 | JR major: 12 | | |
| Seats Available: 33 | GRAD: X | SR non-major: 4 | JR non-major: 3 | SO: 2 | FR: X |
| Drop/Add Enrollment Requests | | | | | |
| Total Submitted Requests: 0 | 1st Ranked: 0 | 2nd Ranked: 0 | 3rd Ranked: 0 | 4th Ranked: 0 | Unranked: 0 |
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