Advanced Studies in the Philosophy of Natural Sciences B [ LFILO2241 ]

Basic instruction in philosophy of natural science ;
Reading knowledge of English sufficient to allow for study of contemporary texts in the philosophy of natural science.

Philosophical analysis of contemporary scientific practices in accordance with a two-fold approach. Methodologically, to ask questions about the applicability and the limits of validity of scientific explanations, relative to other approaches to reality. In terms of content, to learn to see the contributions of natural science as a more general means of comprehending particular phenomena.

Upon completion of the course the student should be able
- to pose critical questions about the importance and the limits of the validity of natural science
- to connect scientific discourse with other forms of discourse about the same phenomenon

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This course will be dedicated to empiricism, especially to various versions of empiricism that have been proposed in philosophy of science in the 19^th and 20^th century. The Mercier chair lectures entitled Varieties of Empiricism in the Philosophy of Science  that will be delivered by Stathis Psillos (University of Athens) will be part of this course.

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