This course provides an introduction to the history and philosophy of science. It presents the main philosophical problems and positions in the study of the natural sciences and examines key episodes in the history of astronomy, physics, chemistry and biology.

While addressing classical positions and authors in philosophy of science, such as logical empiricism, Popper, and Kuhn, we will focus on the central systematic problems of philosophy of science: the problem of induction and underdetermination of theories by empirical data, empirical evidence and confirmation of theories, Bayesian epistemology, scientific explanation and the role of laws of nature, reduction of theories, and scientific realism.

In addition, we will study the Copernican revolution, the chemical revolution, the biological revolution, the revolutions in physics in the early 20th century, as well as the philosophical issues arising from these historical developments in the natural sciences.

This course will be held in English.

The main textbook I will rely on is:

• Peter Godfrey-Smith (2021). Theory and Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science. University of Chicago Press.

The following are useful books in French:

• Barberousse, A., Kistler, M. et Ludwig, P.: La philosophie des sciences au XXe siècle. Flammarion 2000.
• Barberousse, A., Bonnay, D. et Cozic, M.: Précis de philosophie des sciences. Vuibert 2011.
• Esfeld, M.: Philosophie des sciences: Une introduction. Presses polytechniques et universitaires romandes 2006.

Most texts are available on this course's moodle page at Moodle.

Slides (in PDF format) are available under the links in the schedule below.

Here is a video of 6 minutes which explains the problem of induction, even though without discussing the possibility of an a priori justification at the level of relations of ideas:

• I hope this helps with Sam Dresser: The problem of induction

For this course, the following criteria will be applied for obtaining credit

• Presence and participation in the course: I expect participants to attend the course and to actively participate. Failure to do so may result in a grade deduction, or even in not passing the course at all.
• Written exam of 2 hours: There will be a written exam of 2 hours (anonymised) during the exam sessions of June or August. e will discuss the format of the exam in due course.

Here is the course schedule, which is subject to change.

Date	Topic	Reading
21.09.	Organisation Introduction
28.09.	History of philosophy of science	Godfrey-Smith, ch. 1 *BKL ch. 1, pp. 9-13
05.10.	Science vs pseudoscience	Ruse, Creation-science is not science Laudan, Commentary Ruse, Response to the commentary *Hotez, Anti-science kills
12.10.	Arguments, deduction, induction	Godfrey-Smith, glossary, pp. 337-348 (excerpts, as you see fit) *BKL ch. 2, pp. 32-42; *BKL pp. 269-297 (extraits)
19.10.	Logical empiricism	Godfrey-Smith, ch. 2 *Esfeld §§2.1-2.3
26.10.	Popper and falsificationism	Godfrey-Smith, ch. 4 *Esfeld §§2.4-2.5
02.11.	Scientific Revolution
09.11.	Catching up
16.11.	Kuhn and scientific revolutions	Godfrey-Smith, ch. 5 *Esfeld, ch. 5
23.11.	Holism and underdetermination
30.11.	Chemical revolution
07.12.	Natural kinds in chemistry
14.12.	Scientific realism
21.12.	Catching up

Remarks:

• Readings with an astérisk (*) are optional.
• Readings in English are in red, readings in French are in blue.
• Godfrey-Smith: Peter Godfrey-Smith (2021). Theory and Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science. University of Chicago Press.
• BKL: Barberousse, A., Kistler, M. et Ludwig, P.: La philosophie des sciences au XXe siècle. Flammarion 2000.