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

Here is the study guide for the written exam:

• Study guide (for fall semester only)
• Study guide (for full year and for spring semester)

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 for the spring semester 2024, which is subject to change.

Date	Topic	Reading
22.02.	Scientific explanation	Godfrey-Smith, §§11.1-11.2 *BKL, ch. 5, pp. 100-110
29.02.	Laws of nature	Godfrey-Smith, §§11.3-11.4 *BKL, ch. 4; *Esfeld, ch. 22
07.03.	Natural kinds and topics in the philosophy of chemistry	Hendry, Natural kinds in chemistry *Weisberg, Needham, Hendry, SEP entry on the philosophy of chemistry
14.03.	The biological revolution: from Darwin and Mendel to the discovery of the DNA	Morange, ch. 7, pp. 169-188, 204-205 *Morange, ch. 7, pp. 183-200, 216-218
21.03.	Topics in philosophy of biology: species	Sterelny and Griffiths, ch. 9 *Godfrey-Smith (2014), ch. 7 *Pradeu
28.03.	Spacetime	Huggett, ch. 9 *Esfeld, ch. 14
04.04.	Spring break
11.04.	Spacetime (continued), catching up	Huggett, chs. 14, 15 *Esfeld, ch. 12
18.04.	Quantum physics	Maudlin, ch. 1 *Ismael, SEP entry on the quantum mechanics *Esfeld, ch. 18
25.04.	Quantum physics (continued)	Mermin *Esfeld (2012), ch. 9
02.05.	Catching up
09.05.	Ascension Day
16.05.	Gravitational waves and black holes	Penrose, §§19.8, 27.8-27.9
23.05.	Special program: conference
30.05.	The revolution in the foundations of mathematics	Handout on set theory

Here is the course schedule for the fall semester 2023, 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, §§ 3.1-3.2, and 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	Henry, The scientific revolution
09.11.	Catching up
16.11.	Kuhn and scientific revolutions	Godfrey-Smith, ch. 5 *Esfeld, ch. 5
23.11.	Holism and underdetermination	Godfrey-Smith, §§9.1-9.2 *Esfeld §§3.1-3.3
30.11.	Chemical revolution	Best, What was revolutionary about the chemical revolution?
07.12.	Induction and confirmation	Godfrey-Smith, §§ 3.3-3.4 *BKL ch. 2, pp. 42-54
14.12.	Scientific realism	Godfrey-Smith, ch. 10 *Esfeld ch. 1
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.