2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Philosophy of Science C
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Katsuaki Higashi
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.T306
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
Philosophy of science covers a wide range of questions. On the one hand, there are questions about science in general, such as "What is the difference between science and non-science?", and on the other hand, there are questions about the foundations of individual sciences, such as quantum mechanics and the theory of evolution. In class, we take up various topics in the philosophy of science, learn about the thoughts of our predecessors, and discuss whether they are right or wrong. We aim to form a balanced understanding that science, although it may sometimes be wrong, is the most reliable form of knowledge.
Course description and aims
The goal is to enable students to think objectively about science and understand and explain its strengths (it being the most reliable form of knowledge) as well as its limitations.
●The lectures will not only introduce various positions, but also present counterarguments to these. Students will be expected to construct their own answers to these arguments, sometimes actively gathering information.
●Students are expected to think actively about the science and technology that benefits our daily lives, and the relationship between science and humans.
Keywords
Science, philosophy, logic, causality, pseudoscience, quantum mechanics
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
First, I introduce various positions and criticisms on each topic (60 minutes), then we have a group discussion (20 minutes), and finally, I ask students to write a reaction paper based on the discussion (20 minutes).
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | The relation between science and philosophy | Explain the historical relation between science and philosophy. |
| Class 2 | Reasoning and methods in science 1: Deductive reasoning and its formalization | Explain how deductive reasoning was formalized in the 20th century. |
| Class 3 | Reasoning and methods in science 2: Inductive reasoning, hypothetico-deductive method | Are there any forms of reasoning in science that cannot be captured by the hypothetico-deductive method? |
| Class 4 | The problem of induction 1: Hume's argument, Popper's falsificationism | Criticize the claim that any propositions in science are logically falsifiable. |
| Class 5 | Problems of induction 2: Bayesianism | Consider the validity of the Bayesian solution to the problem of justifying inductive inference. |
| Class 6 | Confirming and falsifying statistical hypotheses in Bayesianism | Examine the validity of the criticism against Bayesianism that it lacks objectivity. |
| Class 7 | What is the difference between science and pseudo-science? | Consider whether it is possible, and whether it is necessary, to draw a line between science and pseudo-science. |
| Class 8 | Counterfactuals and causation | Counterfactuals are not just conditionals. Explain why. |
| Class 9 | Zeno's paradoxes | If you see any problem with Grünbaum's argument, point it out. |
| Class 10 | Scientific revolution and incommensurability | Present an idea that goes beyond the incommensurability argument. |
| Class 11 | Scientific realism and anti-realism | Critically examine whether the success of science implies that scientific realism is correct. |
| Class 12 | Einstein and quantum mechanics | Explain why Einstein was not convinced by quantum mechanics. |
| Class 13 | Bell's inequalities and non-locality | Explain the non-local nature of quantum mechanics. |
| Class 14 | Evolution and ethics | Examine what science, which studies facts, can say about ethics, which deals with norms. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
None required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Distribute lecture materials as appropriate.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Mini Test (50%) and Term paper(50%).
Related courses
- LAH.T106 ： Philosophy of Science A
- LAH.T207 ： Philosophy of Science B
Prerequisites
No prerequisites.