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Theodore Gracyk Office Hours: MWF 10-12 & 2-3, T & H 10:30-Noon Email: gracyk@mnstate.edu (please note that I do not read email on weekends or evenings) This course is an introduction to recent and classic controversies about the nature of science, the supposed nature of the scientific method, and the objectivity of scientific knowledge. It presupposes knowledge of science possessed by the average high school graduate. Required books for this course Thomas Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolutions David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding A.F. Chalmers, What is this thing called Science? Sillman Drake, Galileo: A Very Short Introduction Grading Your grade will be based on four components: Weekly homework 25% First exam 25% Second exam 25% Final exam 25% (Scheduled for NOON on Friday, December 14) The first and second exams are take-home essays. They must be typed or word-processed. The final exam is in-class, but you may use your books and notes. Homework will be assigned in class on a regular basis. Attendance There is no attendance policy. I will not take attendance. There is no need to notify me if you will be absent from class. However, your failure to attend class will almost certainly reduce your comprehension of the course content and will be reflected in a low course grade. General policies Late work will not receive a grade higher than C. Work is not late if you request and receive an extension on the due date. To get an extension, you must speak to me (or email me) at least one class session before the work is due. I strongly encourage questions from students. Remember that there are no
stupid questions. There are only unprepared instructors.
Reading Assignments You are expected to have read the assignments before class on the date listed below. Thursday, August 30 Hume, Section II (pp. 9-13) Tuesday, Sept 4 Chalmers, Chapter 1 Thursday, Sept 6 Drake, Chapter 2 Tuesday, Sept 11 Chalmers, Chapter 2 Thursday, Sept 13 Continue discussion of Chalmers Tuesday, Sept 18 Chalmers, Chapter 3 Thursday, Sept 20 Chalmers, Chapter 4 Tuesday, Sept 25 Hume, Section IV (pp. 15-25) Thursday, Sept 27 Continue discussion of Hume, Section IV Tuesday, Oct 2 Drake, Chapter 3 and Chalmers, Chapter 5 Thursday, Oct 4 Chalmers, Chapter 6 Tuesday, Oct 9 Chalmers, Chapter 7 Thursday, Oct 11 Kuhn, Chapters I, II, III, IV Tuesday, Oct 16 Kuhn, Chapter V Thursday, Oct 18 Kuhn, Chapters VI, VII, VIII Tuesday, Oct 23 Kuhn, Chapters IX and X Thursday, Oct 25 Kuhn, Chapters XI, XII, XIII Tuesday, Oct 30 Drake, Chapters 4, 5, 6 Thursday, Nov 1 Kuhn, Postscript Tuesday, Nov 6 Chalmers, Chapter 8 Thursday, Nov 8 Chalmers, Chapter 9 Tuesday, Nov 13 Chalmers, Chapter 10 Thursday, Nov 15 Chalmers, Chapters 11 and 13 Tuesday, Nov 20 Hume, Section VII (pp. 39-53) Thursday, Nov 22 HOLIDAY Tuesday, Nov 27 Chalmers, Chapter 14 Thursday, Nov 29 Chalmers, Chapter 15 December readings will be announced in late November
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