Realism, Relativism and Naturalism
Subject PHIL40001 (2010)
Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.
| Credit Points: | 12.50 | ||||||||||||
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| Level: | 4 (Undergraduate) | ||||||||||||
| Dates & Locations: | This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010: Semester 2, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Standard Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here. | ||||||||||||
| Time Commitment: | Contact Hours: 2 Total Time Commitment: 10 | ||||||||||||
| Prerequisites: | Admission to a Postgraduate Diploma or fourth-year honours in Philosophy or in History and Philosophy of Science or the the Master of Arts in Science, Communication and Society; or admission to a Postgraduate Diploma or fourth-year honours in another area with the permission of the subject coordinator. | ||||||||||||
| Corequisites: | None | ||||||||||||
| Recommended Background Knowledge: | Knowledge gained in a 3 year undergraduate degree or a Graduate Diploma. | ||||||||||||
| Non Allowed Subjects: | None | ||||||||||||
| Core Participation Requirements: | For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/ |
| Subject Overview: |
The focus of this class will be the relationship between knowledge and reality in the context of the epistemology and metaphysics of science. Our point of departure will be the apparent conflict between science and common sense that Wilfrid Sellars characterizes in terms of the opposition between the scientific and the manifest image. Some philosophers treat common sense as epistemically and ontologically foundational. Others see it as subject to cultural variation or as 'stone-age metaphysics' to be eliminated with the advance of scientific knowledge. Our exploration of the tension between science and common sense will lead us to consider the debate between realism and anti-realism in the philosophy of science, as well as recent developments involving naturalistic conceptions of epistemic warrant. |
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| Objectives: | Students who successfully complete this subject will:
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| Assessment: | A 5000-word research essay 100% (due at the end of semester). |
| Prescribed Texts: | A reading list will be issued at the beginning of semester. |
| Breadth Options: | This subject is not available as a breadth subject. |
| Fees Information: | Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date |
| Generic Skills: | Students who successfully complete this subject will:
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| Links to further information: | http://www.pasi.unimelb.edu.au/ |
| Related Course(s): |
M.A.History & Philosophy of Science (Advanced Seminars & Shorter Thesis) Master of Arts (Science, Communication and Society) |
| Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: |
History and Philosophy of Science History && Philosophy of Science History and Philosophy of Science Philosophy Philosophy Philosophy |
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