The Philosophy of Science
The philosophy of science seeks to analyse fundamental philosophical questions concerning scientific methodology, especialy in relation to probability and the use of statistics, and the status of scientific theories, and to answer such questions as:
- Does science lead to The Truth about Reality?
- Is there even such a thing as The Truth about Reality?
- Does The Scientific Method really exist?
- If The Scientific Method exists, how can it be justified?
- How does human consciousness interact with the physical world?
- Can science tell us everything that human beings can know?
- Does Mathematics really give us true certainty?
- Has science shown that God does not exist?
- What, if anything, is wrong with believing in astrology?
In our classes we do not seek to persuade you of "THE Definitive Answers" to any of these questions. Rather, the issues are discussed, and students are encouraged to resolve these questions for themselves. Our aim it to enable students to think carefully and critically.
The two staff members of the HPS program whose principal interests lie in the philosophy of science are Howard Sankey and Neil Thomason.
HPS subjects oriented toward the Philosophy of Science:
First Year:
- 136-105 Science, Philosophy and History
Second/third year in HPS:
- 136-033 Science, Reason and Reality
- 136-207 Philosophy of Biology
- 136-208 History and Philosophy of Mathematics
- 136-260 God and the Natural Sciences
Honours/Masters:
- 136-536 Scientific Realism and Anit-Realism
ALL of the above subjects receive Science credit.
Students particularly interested in the Philosophy of Science should consider the "Logic and Philosophy of Science" major, combining HPS and Philosophy subjects.