Our modern world has been shaped by science, and it is important for all of us to reflect on its meaning and justification. In this course we examine questions such as: How can we tell the difference between science and pseudo-science? Is science literally true? Is science biased by class, culture or gender? What really happens during a scientific revolution? Is there really such a thing as scientific progress? How do scientists test their theories? What factors threaten scientific progress? Are there limits to science? Can we have too much science, or be too much influenced by it? Which scientific developments are philosophically important? This course is accessible to students who are not specialists in science but who have an open mind to new concepts.
Our modern world has been shaped by science, and it is important for all of us to reflect on its meaning and justification. In this course we examine questions such as: How can we tell the difference between science and pseudo-science? Is science literally true? Is science biased by class, culture or gender? What really happens during a scientific revolution? Is there really such a thing as scientific progress? How do scientists test their theories? What factors threaten scientific progress? Are there limits to science? Can we have too much science, or be too much influenced by it? Which scientific developments are philosophically important? This course is accessible to students who are not specialists in science but who have an open mind to new concepts.
