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Philosophy of Science

Code: 100312
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Philosophy OB 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Oscar Castro Garcia
Email :
oscar.castro@uab.cat

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites.

Objectives

In this course, students will learn to reflect on some of the basic questions in the philosophy of science, as well as to gain a broad overview of some of the main historical and current proposals in this discipline and their implications within scientific, academic and social contexts. The course begins with a reflection on the nature of science and its limits, and then moves on to some classic debates, such as those concerning the problem of induction, the demarcation criterion, the nature of scientific change, the nature of scientific explanation, the question of realism, and the human impact of science. These discussions are illustrated using examples from fields such as physics, biology, cognitive science and sociology, also aiming to offer a perspective on various particular sciences and their relevant contributions to the philosophy of science. At the same time, the foundations are laid for a brief history of some of the classic positions in the philosophy of science, which will be completed and revised during the final part of the course.




Learning outcomes

  • CM20 (Compare different paradigms of knowledge, recognising the complexity and plurality of contemporary philosophical thought in its relationship with science and technology.) Compare different paradigms of knowledge, recognising the complexity and plurality of contemporary philosophical thought in its relationship with science and technology.
  • CM21 (Value the uses of knowledge, questioning its forms of legitimation, exclusion or manipulation today.) Value the uses of knowledge, questioning its forms of legitimation, exclusion or manipulation today.
  • CM22 (Develop a critical, articulated and reflective vision of knowledge in its multiple dimensions: epistemic, linguistic, scientific and technological and evaluate the challenges that these imply.) Develop a critical, articulated and reflective vision of knowledge in its multiple dimensions: epistemic, linguistic, scientific and technological and evaluate the challenges that these imply.
  • KM23 (Cite the philosophical foundations of knowledge, as well as the historical, linguistic, scientific and technological conditions that shape it, identifying the relations and power structures that result in epistemological biases. .) Cite the philosophical foundations of knowledge, as well as the historical, linguistic, scientific and technological conditions that shape it, identifying the relations and power structures that result in epistemological biases. .
  • KM24 (Identify the role of language and technology in the production, circulation and legitimisation of knowledge.) Identify the role of language and technology in the production, circulation and legitimisation of knowledge.
  • KM25 (Explain the main contemporary theories and debates about truth, justification, rationality, meaning, objectivity and progress.) Explain the main contemporary theories and debates about truth, justification, rationality, meaning, objectivity and progress.
  • SM24 (Evaluate scientific and technical discourses from a philosophical perspective, detecting assumptions, tensions and social effects in human and post-human viewpoints.) Evaluate scientific and technical discourses from a philosophical perspective, detecting assumptions, tensions and social effects in human and post-human viewpoints.
  • SM25 (Analyse philosophical texts and arguments on knowledge, science, language and technology and the social impact of their development with conceptual rigour.) Analyse philosophical texts and arguments on knowledge, science, language and technology and the social impact of their development with conceptual rigour.
  • SM26 (Use diverse philosophical approaches in the interpretation of current problems related to truth, communication, epistemic authority and technological innovation.) Use diverse philosophical approaches in the interpretation of current problems related to truth, communication, epistemic authority and technological innovation.

Contents

Part One: Fundamental Problems in Philosophy of Science Through Emblematic Cases This section will address the classic problems of the philosophy of science, using the contributions and challenges of selected female scientists as case studies.


Module 1: The Nature of Science, Demarcation, and Explanation. The Legacy of Physics and Chemistry.


  • What is science and how is it distinguished from what is not? (Demarcation criterion)


  • What is the goal of science and what counts as a \"good\" scientific explanation?


  • Case Studies


Module 2: The Problem of Induction, Scientific Change, and the Construction of Knowledge.


  • How is valid scientific knowledge acquired? The problem of induction.


  • What is the nature of scientific change?


  • Case Studies


Part Two: History, Recent Developments, and the Social Impact of Science. This section will reconstruct a brief history of key contributions to the discipline and address the social impact of science, using female scientists to illustrate these topics.


Module 3: New Perspectives in Biology and the Critique of Reductionism.


  • From positivism to logical positivism and its critics.


  • Historicism in the philosophy of science.


  • Case Studies


Module 4: Science, Situated Knowledge, and Human Impact.


  • Recent developments: From constructive empiricism to Science and Technology Studies (STS).


  • The human impact of science and its relationship with ethics and politics.


  • Case Studies

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
1 class of evaluation activity on the first part of the course 1.5 0.06
6 classes of discussion group over the themes of the second part 9 0.36
8 classes on the first part 12 0.48
Readings of texts and preparation of the questions for the next class 30 1.2
Study of the concepts presented in class and preparation of presentations 50 2
1 class of evaluation activity on the second part of the course 1.5 0.06
8 classes on the second part 12 0.48
6 classes of discussion groups on the topics of the first part 9 0.36

The course will consist of tutorial meetings between the students and the professor, where the technical aspects of the course content will be discussed, as well as tasks appropriate to the students’ profile. At the end of the course, there will be an in-person assessment (to be decided whether in small groups or individually, depending on the variables accepted by the OQD).


Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Oral and collective Speech 20% 7 0.28 CM20, CM22, KM25, SM24, SM25, SM26
Discussions and written exam on the first part of the course 40% 9 0.36 CM20, CM21, CM22, KM23, KM24, KM25, SM24, SM25, SM26
Discussions and written exam on the second part of the course 40% 9 0.36 CM20, CM21, CM22, KM23, KM24, KM25, SM24, SM25, SM26

CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT:

The Department of Philosophy agreed that the subjects of the first semester would have two periods of concentration of evaluation activities and a week in which students could prepare specifically for the tests in the modality that each teacher will specify at the beginning of the course. The dates for the review week and in which the tests will be concentrated are:

• Oct. 27- Oct. 31: review week or tutorials

• Nov. 3 - Nov. 7: evaluation week

• January 8-9-12-13-14: evaluation week

The continuous evaluation will consist of:

A) Two partial exams (40% + 40%), one for each block of the subject. The format will be announced sufficiently in advance.

B) A group presentation (20%). The format will be announced sufficiently in advance.

All assessment activities will have a corresponding review. At the time of each assessment activity, the teacher will inform the students (via Moodle) of the procedure and date for reviewing grades.

To pass the subject, a minimum average of 5 is required. The student will receive a grade of \"Not Assessable\" if they have not submitted more than 30% of the assessment activities.

If a student commits any irregularity that could significantly alter the grade of an assessment activity, that activity will be graded as 0, regardless of any disciplinary process that may be initiated. If multiple irregularities occur in the assessment activities of the same subject, the final grade for the subject will be 0.

To be eligible for the retake, the student must have been previously assessed in a set of activities whose weight is equivalent to at least 2/3 of the total grade. The minimum average grade of the assessed activities cannot be less than 3 or more than 5.

The retake will consist of resubmitting the failed assessment activities in a format that will be announced well in advance.

Any modifications related to assessment, methodology, etc., will be promptly communicated through the virtual campus.

UNIQUE ASSESSMENT

The unique evaluation procedure will be based on three tests that will take place on the same day.

The evidence for each test is as follows:

A review, such as those developed by the continuous assessment on a required reading 20%

A commentary on a text presented in class 40%

A written exam 40%

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)

This subject allows the use of AI technologies exclusively for support tasks such as [content-based searches, text correction or translation, and quotes and references, where applicable]. For subjects in a Modern Languages degree, the use of translation must be specifically authorised by the teacher. Other specific situations may be contemplated, as deemed appropriate by the teacher.

The student must clearly (i) identify which parts have been generated using AI technology; (ii) specify the tools used; and (iii) include a critical reflection on how these have influenced the process and outcome of the activity.

Lack of transparency regarding the use of AI in the assessed activity will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade may be lowered, or the work may even be awarded a zero. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken.

Bibliography

  • Casacuberta David (2021). La era de Casandra. Una apología del no saber. Bellaterra: Ediciones UAB.
  • Crawford, Kate (2023). Atlas de IA: Poder, política y costes planetarios de la inteligencia artificial. Barcelona: NED Ediciones.
  • Diez, José A. & Moulines, Ulises (2008). Fundamentos de Filosofía de la Ciencia. Barcelona: Ariel.
  • Echeverria, Javier (2003). La revolución tecnocientífica. Madrid: Fondo de Cultura Económica.
  • Estany, Anna (2016). Introducción a la filosofía de la ciencia. Bellaterra: Ediciones UAB.
  • Feyerabend, Paul (2007). Contra el método. Madrid: Tecnos.
  • Haraway, Donna (2019). Seguir con el problema: Generar parentesco en el Chthuluceno. Bilbao: Consonni.
  • Kastrup, Bernardo (2025). ¿Por qué el materialismo es un embuste? Girona: Atalanta
  • Kuhn, Thomas S. (2016). La estructura de las revoluciones científicas. Madrid: Fondo de Cultura Económica.
  • Latour, Bruno (2017). Lecciones de sociología de las ciencias. Barcelona: Arpa.
  • Perdomo, Inmaculada & Sánchez, Jesús (2013). Hacia un nuevo empirismo: La propuesta filosófica de Bas C.Van Fraassen. Madrid: Biblioteca Nueva.
  • Popper, Karl (2008). La lógica de la investigación científica. Madrid: Tecnos.

 

Software

The subject does not require the use of any software, although a space will be opened in Google Classroom to share materials and doubts.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE