Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL2026: Philosophy of Science

This module descriptor refers to the 2019/0 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

  • Induction—Justification
  • Induction—Description
  • Popper and falsificationism
  • Kuhn—Paradigms and progress
  • Kuhn—Incommensurability
  • Realism and anti-realism
  • The no-miracles argument
  • The Pessimistic meta-induction
  • Theories, models and experiments
  • The Sociology of Scientific Knowledge

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
221280

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity22The module will be taught as a series of two-hour seminars, organised around open-ended discussion of pre-assigned readings. Students will be required to read and think widely beyond the assigned readings.
Guided Independent study5511 x 5 hours for course
Guided Independent study2Preparing for presentations
Guided Independent study36.5Reading for and writing of essay 1
Guided Independent study36.5Reading for and writing of essay 2

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).