Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL2100: Knowledge and History: Theories of Scientific Change

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

Module Aims

- To develop a critical, nuanced, and self-confident understanding of key concepts, theories and schools within twentieth-century epistemology.

- To raise critical awareness of the contested status of knowledge claims, including scientific ones, and of the importance of cultural, socio-economic and political factors that shape knowledge.

- To interrogate difficult philosophical books for nuances and layers of meaning, styles and strategies of reasoning, as well as tensions and contradictions.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.

On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. demonstrate a foundational knowledge of the main positions in twentieth-century epistemology with regard to the problem of induction, the nature of experiment, and the notion of scientific progress;
2. evaluate these positions and to understand and analyse the arguments that have been raised for and against them;
Discipline-Specific Skills3. interpret, and discuss difficult philosophical texts;
4. philosophical style and develop an awareness of the dynamics of scientific knowledge production; and develop an awareness of the dynamics of scientific knowledge production.
Personal and Key Skills5. construct, express, present and discuss ideas and arguments, both of your own and of others, according to academic standards; and
6. demonstrate the ability to analyse received wisdom as well as the ability to avoid rash conclusions.