Required readings
Logical positivism (September 27): Schlick, Cartwright and Quine, 1999 paper on nursing science
The nature of explanation (October 4 & 11): Carnap and Hempel, Ruben(selected) Note! In the original syllabus, these readings and this topic is assigned two weeks. For 10.4, complete the first two readings and start the Ruben; we'll finish the Ruben and begin "The problem of induction" readings for 10.11.
The problem of induction (October 11): Lipton, Salmon, Popper. Optional: Allmark (fr. "Nursing Philosophy") For the 11th: finish the Ruben and begin these readings (the Popper or Salmon are good starts)
Popper; falsifiability (October 18): another Popper, Lakatos
Demarcation (October 25): we will begin the demarcation papers this week, including Thagard, Ruse, Laudan (and Ruse response here for the interested). Finally, take a look at the Allmark (see Oct. 11).
Midterm November 1
Demarcation & Paradigms (for November 8): Complete the Ruse and Laudan (see October 25) and read the first Kuhn paper. I've no access to a scanner, but this one is common enough to be on-line: see http://www.marxists.org/reference/subject/philosophy/works/us/kuhn.htm (stop at "Postscript").
Kuhn's critics (for November 15): McMullin and Longino, both distributed in class (read completely -- but read with a light touch: don't worry about getting every detail of every example)
Realism; discovery (for November 29): Maxwell, Van Fraassen, and Brown -- all distributed in class. Begin with the Van Fraassen (he's clearest) and try to make it through the Maxwell (he's briefer). We'll read the Brown for next time. In reading these papers, keep in mind that each sentence of each argument need not be deeply understood in order to follow the argument. In other words, do not get mired in the examples; try to see the forest, not just the trees. Note! I have jury duty beginning Monday. If I'm called to serve on a jury, I will post information about class postponement here on November 28th.
Contemporary public discussions of science (for December 6 & 13): Brown (see Nov. 29); Sokal (skim); Orr on evolution; Kitcher (to be distributed in class)
Final exam