Course description (Christian Wüthrich)
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 and philosophy of astronomy, physics, chemistry and biology.
In the fall semester, we will focus on the central systematic problems of philosophy of science such as the the demarcation of science, 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. We will encounter classical problems, positions, and authors in philosophy of science, such as logical empiricism, Popper, and Kuhn. In addition, we will study the scientific revolution of the 16th and 17th centuries.
In the spring semester, we will shift to the history and philosophy of specific natural sciences. In particular, the chemical and biological revolutions from the later 18th to the early 20th centuries will be covered, jointly with selected issues in the philosophy of chemistry and the philosophy of biology. We will also study the revolutions in physics in the early 20th century (relativity and quantum physics), as well as the philosophical issues arising in spacetime and quantum physics. If there is time and interest, we may also cover parts of the history and foundations of mathematics and the earth sciences.
This course can be taken either fully as an annual course, or just for one semester (in which case its value is 3.5 ECTS).
This course will be given in English.