Jagdish Hattiangadi

Instruction: Wednesdays: 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. Moodle and Zoom

Office Hours: Tuesdays 12:00 noon -12:50 p.m., by Zoom

Email: jagdish@yorku.ca, Tel. 416 766 4446 at home.

This course will deal with the main issues and points of view in the subject of philosophy of science..  We will take up the topics in the subject matter that are put together in the compendium by Alex Rosenberg’ etc. Before each class, each of you is expected to have already discussed, on Moodle, each topic that has been assigned for the class. Please note that this is expected in advance of the class discussions. In each class we will also discuss further the material found in your Moodle posts. In this manner, we will try to engage in the arguments that underlie each piece of writing rather than look at them superficially. This engagement is central to the course, and the grades will depend much more on participation than usually the case. The papers to be discussed will cover some of the most commonly discussed topics in the subject. At the end of this course, you should have a good background understanding of the main issues under discussion in the general subject of Philosophy of Science.

Technical requirements for taking the course Technical requirements for taking the course: There is no on campus meeting scheduled for this course. All contact is through video conferencing. Anyone taking the course must be prepared to also appear on video (e.g., for tutorial/seminar discussion, remote proctoring, etc.). In addition to stable, higher-speed Internet connection, you will need a computer with webcam and microphone to participate in the course. A smart device like a tablet or smart phone with these features is not adequate for participation in the course.

Here are some useful links for student computing information, resources and help:

Student Guide to Moodle

Zoom@YorkU Best Practices 

Zoom@YorkU User Reference Guide

Computing for Students Website

Student Guide to eLearning at York University

To determine Internet connection and speed, there are online tests, such as Speedtest, that can be run.]

Times and locations: Please note that this is a course that depends on remote teaching and learning. There will be no in-person interactions or activities on campus.

Lectures and discussion, W. 2:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. by Zoom

Virtual office hours:  All office meetings will be by telephone or by Zoom. Please email me to arrange a meeting.

Required Course Text / Readings: Philosophy of Science: Contemporary Readings, by Alex Rosenberg and Yuri Balashov.

For Preliminary reading, as prior background: Samir Okasha, Philosophy of Science, A Very Short Introduction.

Assignment Grade Weight          Due Date

1) Moodle Discussion 30%             Every week, 48 hours before class

2) Mid term exam        30%             February 24, Open Book Exam

3) Final Paper             40%             April 07, 2021 by 2:30 p.m.

Late penalty 2% per day

TOTAL                        100%

Additional Information:   

1) Moodle Discussion (30%)

Moodle discussion will cover all of the material from the beginning of the course. You must post some contribution to the discussion each week to fulfill this component, and more if the topic interests you. Contributions are small and pithy, rather than essays. Discussion on Moodle counts toward a final grade when at least one discussion is posted at least 48 hours before the topic is taken up in class on Zoom, so you must read the material even prior to that deadline. Moodle discussion will also be taken up further in classroom (Zoom) discussion. Moodle discussion posts are graded for relevance, the clarity and importance of the points made and its impact on subsequent discussion. Whether you post first on a topic or comment on another’s post makes no difference to the grade you earn on it. The 30% of the final grade which is reserved for Moodle posts and classroom(Zoom) discussion combined as a participation mark cannot be substituted by writing an essay or essays instead.

2) Midterm Exam (30%) (Required for passing grade in the course)

The midterm exam will be held by Zoom where you will need to be on video to be seen by the instructor. The mid term  test is an Open Book Exam which will cover all of the material in the course up until the week before. The midterm exam will consist of short answers, rather than an essay. N. B. Students enrolled in this course who do not sit for a midterm exam cannot obtain a passing mark on the course.

3) Final Paper (40%)

Your approximately 12-page paper (double spaced) will address one of the issues raised in the course, and you will also be given a choice. The assignment must be submitted electronically on the Moodle web site which is also a Turnitin website that checks for plagiarism issues. Please note that we are governed by a Senate policy on plagiarism. When in doubt, cite! Please note that there is a late penalty for the final paper.

IMPORTANT DATES

Weekly topics have been marked on the Moodle website for the course. Please consult the website.

Any student who completes this course will have,

• A knowledge of the main theories involving philosophy of science
• Some critical appreciation of how theories are evaluated
• A familiarity with the major positions taken up currently in philosophy  of science
• An improved ability to read and write in a critical manner on different subjects