Philosophy of Science (p) (2006/2007)

Learning outcomes

The course is conceived as an introduction to philosophy of science and some important phases of scientific development, as well as philosophical issues connected to it.

Contents of the course:
I) Elements of the history of philosophy of science:
a) Philosophy of science in the Ancient and Medieval thought;
b) Seminars on G.Galilei and I. Newton;
c) Science in modern Age and its philosophical implications;
d) Positivism – seminar on Comte;
e) Crisis of the unity of science and new perspective in philosophy of science: conventionalism, logical empyrism, falsicationism, operationism, theory of scientific revolution, programmes of the scientific research. See in: a) LOSEE, Philosophy of science, chap. 1-8, 9 (sect. I, II, III §§ 1, 2), 10, 11, 12 (§§ 1-3), 14 (§§ 1, 2); b) notes from class.
II) Subjects of philosophy of science: a) logics and philosophy of science; b) Euclidean and non-Euclidean geometry; c) Models; d) The philosophical issue brought up by the theories of relativity and quantum mechanics; e) Probability; f) Seminar on J.-H. Poincaré and R. Carnap. See in: a) GILLIES, GIORELLO, Philosophy of science in the XXth century; various authors, Philosophy of science, edited by C. Sinigaglia; b) notes from class.

Oral test concerning the programme