Philosophy 025
Fall 2003, T Th 10:00-11:25
Edward Pols House conference room
<http://www.bowdoin.edu/ ~ pmagnus>
P.D. Magnus
Campus phone x3982
Office hours W F 10:00-11:00 and by app't
In this course, we'll explore important questions about the relationship between science and society: What sort of social organization makes for the most productive science? What sort of science yields the most benefit for society at large? Should science set its own agenda, or should it be guided by our social aspirations? Readings will include recent and classic papers in philosophy and science studies.
* custom course packet [CP]
* Philip Kitcher, Science, Truth, and Democracy
* Stephen J. Gould, The Mismeasure of Man
* Karl Popper, selections from Conjectures and Refutations (handout)
* Naomi Oreskes, `Objectivity or Heroism?' (on reserve)
Response questions: There wll be five response questions about the assigned readings. The questions will be handed out in class one week before they're due. One-page, typed answers will be due on the day indicated.
Papers: Students will write three five-page papers on assigned topics. Drafts of the papers will be brought to class on the indicated day and exchanged with an assigned classmate. Students will evaluate and respond to the drafts, returning them to the authors during the next class period. The paper will be due the following class period; students should turn in the final draft along with the rough draft and respondent's comments.
Class participation: Students are expected to read the assigned readings and come to class prepared to discuss them.
On-line discussion: Students are expected to contribute to the on-line discussion list for the course- at least one substantive contribution per week, on average. Note that `Someone else already said what I was going to say' is not an excuse for not participating in the discussion. Isn't there something you could add? A question you could pose?
15% Response questions
10% Paper drafts
10% Peer review
15% Paper I
15% Paper II
15% Paper III
10% Class participation
10% On-line discussion
Students are expected to abide by the Bowdoin Academic Honor Code. Papers should include citations to any works cited or consulted, as well as acknowledgments of helpful interactions.
Students are encouraged to take advantage of the Writing Project:
<http://academic.bowdoin.edu/writing_project>
Assignments will be considered late if the are not on hand at the beginning of class on the day they are due. Each day late will result in a loss of one letter grade.
Students who will need to miss class for religious observance, away games, or for other scheduled reasons should discuss these issues with the professor at the beginning of the term. If an emergency results in absence, the student should contact the professor as soon as possible.
| DATE | TOPIC | READING | DUE |
| Th 9/4 | Introduction | ||
| T 9/9 | Science as falsification | Popper | |
| Th 9/11 | `' | `' | Response #1 |
| T 9/16 | Science as a social system | Merton, CP2 | Response #2 |
| Th 9/18 | Case study: Ether drift | Collins&Pinch, CP3 | |
| optional: Kitcher, ch.1, pp.38-41 | |||
| T 9/23 | Case study: Ecclipse observations | ||
| Th 9/25 | Case study: Solar neutrinos | Collins&Pinch, CP4 | |
| T 9/30 | Workshop: Editting | Draft of Paper I | |
| Th 10/2 | Natural kinds | Kitcher, ch.4 | Peer review |
| T 10/7 | Theories as maps | Kitcher, ch.5 | Paper I |
| Th 10/9 | Scientific significance | Kitcher, ch.6 | |
| T 10/14 | Case study: IQ testing | Gould, ch.5 | Response #3 |
| Th 10/16 | `' | Gould, pp. 286-302, 351-353, 365-366 | |
| T 10/21 | FALL VACATION | ||
| Th 10/23 | Should there be limits to enquiry? | Kitcher, ch.8 | |
| T 10/28 | Is truth a good thing? | Kitcher, ch.12 | Draft of Paper II |
| Th 10/30 | `' | Kitcher, pp.172-180 | Peer review |
| T 11/4 | `' | `' | Paper II |
| Th 11/6 | Gender and science | Fox Keller, CP6 | |
| T 11/11 | `' | Longino, CP7 | |
| Th 11/13 | `' | Oreskes | Response #4 |
| T 11/18 | `' | ||
| Th 11/20 | Well-ordered science | Kitcher, ch.9 | Response #5 |
| T 11/25 | `' | Kitcher, ch.10 | |
| Th 11/27 | THANKSGIVING | ||
| T 12/2 | `' | Draft of Paper III | |
| Th 12/4 | Making do | Kitcher, ch.14 | Peer review |
| T 12/9 | `' | ||
| Th 12/11 | Reflection and review | Paper III | |