Seminar on Philosophy of Natural Sciences
[ LFILO2930 ]
5.0 crédits ECTS
30.0 h
2q
| Teacher(s) |
Feltz Bernard ;
Ghins Michel ;
|
| Language |
French
|
Place
of the course |
Louvain-la-Neuve
|
| Main themes |
The seminar will focus on a theme in the area of the philosophy of natural science, to be determined by its members in relation to research projects they are currently involved with.
Active participation at seminar meetings is strongly encouraged.
Professors and researchers from the UCL interested in the topic and specialists in the topic from outside the UCL may participate in the seminar.
|
| Aims |
Upon successful completion of the seminar the student should be able :
To deal with a research topic in the area of the philosophy of natural science on the basis of a critical analysis of major works and texts that bear on the topic in question, and of contributions made within the framework of the seminar.
To write a scientific paper about a research topic that is precisely delimited and germane to the topic of the seminar ;
To participate actively in cooperative research in the philosophy of natural science, especially through discussion of contributions made in the framework of the seminar ;
|
| Content |
These seminars will be dedicated to the classical – but still very well and alive – topic of scientific explanation in connection with representation which is currently a very much studied theme in philosophy of science.
Bas van Fraassen’s last book (Scientific Representation. Paradoxes of Perspective (2008)) is arising many comments and publications. To what extent does the representational success of a model contribute to a better understanding of phenomena? Isn’t necessary to examine the notion of understanding without identifying it – perhaps too quickly – with the concept of explanation?
After some introductory classes, the students will be invited to make an oral presentation of a chapter - or part of chapter - of van Fraassen’s book.
The participants to the seminars will be required to write a personal essay on a topic explicitly discussed in van Fraassen’s book. This essay will be discussed during the oral final examination.
|
| Bibliography |
Ghins, M. (2010), « Bas van Fraassen on Scientific Representation », Analysis 70: 524-536.
Psillos, S. (2002), Causation and Explanation. Montreal: McGill-Queen’s University Press.
Van Fraassen, B. (2008), Scientific Representation.Paradoxes of Perspective. Oxford: OxfordUniversityPress.
|
Cycle et année
d'étude |
> Master [120] in Philosophy
|
Faculty or entity
in charge |
> EFIL
|
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