Course: Philosophy of Science (5354PHSC6Y) — Sep–Oct 2026, Period 1
Programmes: MSc Logic, MSc Physics & Astronomy (+ MSc AI)
Credits: 6 EC
Coordinator: Sebastian De Haro ([email protected])
Teachers: Enrico Cinti ([email protected])
Tutorials: Luka Vinck ([email protected]), Matteo Fabbri ([email protected])
Textbook: M. Curd & J.A. Cover, Philosophy of Science: The Central Issues, Norton (2013)
Exam: Written (50%), min mark 5.5 required to pass
Assessment
Component
Weight
Deadline
Notes
Paper
30%
TBD
Research project paper
Presentation
20%
TBD
In-class presentation
Exam
50%
2026-10-19
Minimum 5.5 required
Objectives
Acquire knowledge of central debates in contemporary philosophy of science at master’s level
Skills: handle primary literature, present a text (possibly collaboratively), debate at academic level, concisely represent a text in short writing
Attitude: critically reflect upon scientific knowledge from a meta-perspective; approach texts analytically
Course Content
Theory vs Evidence: Logical empiricism, induction, prediction, evidence
Kuhn: Philosophy of science, scientific revolutions
Scientific Realism Debate: No-miracles argument, constructive empiricism, pessimistic meta-induction, inference to the best explanation, structural realism
Duhem-Quine Thesis: Underdetermination
Explanation and Understanding
Laws of Nature
Weekly Programme
Week 1 (Calendar 36) — What is Science? / Logical Empiricism
Reading
Pages
Source
Carnap — The Elimination of Metaphysics
Canvas
Godfrey-Smith — Logic Plus Empiricism
Canvas
Popper — Science: Conjectures and Refutations
pp. 3–10
Curd & Cover
Friedman — Carnap and Heidegger
Canvas
Galison — Modernism
Canvas
Richardson — Origins of Logical Empiricism
Canvas
Week 2 (37) — Kuhn on Scientific Progress
Reading
Pages
Source
Lakatos — Science and Pseudoscience
pp. 20–26
Curd & Cover
Kuhn — The Nature and Necessity of Scientific Revolutions
pp. 79–93
Curd & Cover
Longino — Values and Objectivity
pp. 144–164
Curd & Cover
Week 3 (38) — The Duhem-Quine Thesis
Reading
Pages
Source
Quine — On Empirically Equivalent Systems of the World
Library
Laudan — Demystifying Underdetermination
pp. 288–320
Curd & Cover
Duhem — Physical Theory and Experiment (optional)
pp. 227–249
Curd & Cover
Week 4 (39) — Explanation and Understanding
Reading
Pages
Source
Godfrey-Smith — Explanation
Canvas
De Regt & Dieks — A Contextual Approach to Scientific Understanding
Library
De Jong & De Haro — Technological Understanding (optional)
Library
Week 5 (40) — Scientific Realism
Reading
Pages
Source
Van Fraassen — Arguments Concerning Scientific Realism
pp. 1060–1082
Curd & Cover
Musgrave — Realism vs Constructive Empiricism
pp. 1083–1107
Curd & Cover
Laudan — A Confutation of Convergent Realism
pp. 1108–1128
Curd & Cover
Key Deadlines
Date
What
2026-09-25
Project proposal due
2026-10-18
Draft paper due
2026-10-18
Presentation slides due
2026-10-19
Exam
2026-10-31
Final paper due
Project Guidelines
See the Project Description PDF and Proposal Guidelines PDF in Assets/.