Browse Hierarchy PHIL5003: Philosophy of Science

This module provides an introduction to philosophical questions about science, such as what science is and how it works, its limitations, and the roles it plays in our society. Standard topics include the nature of scientific evidence and methodology, the scope and limits of scientific knowledge, and the way in which science progresses through gradual advances and revolutionary upheavals. The module will also cover some topics from the philosophy of particular sciences, such as the explanatory scope of natural selection, and the philosophical challenges posed by quantum mechanics, as well as broader issues such as research ethics and the role and reception of scientific expertise.