Time Schedule:
Andrea I. Woody
PHIL 560
Seattle Campus
Class description
The topic of this seminar is scientific explanation. We will begin with a survey of prominent accounts of scientific explanation offered since the middle of the 20th century, including the inferential, causal, erotetic, and unification accounts. We will then examine recent developments such as the mechanisms literature and new work by James Woodward and Michael Strevens. No specific scientific or philosophical background is required, but some training in the sciences and/or general familiarity with philosophy of science is certainly beneficial, and students will be expected to ponder the details of scientific examples. The seminar will provide solid grounding in the literature on scientific explanation. Because there has been an extended meditation on the nature of explanation in this literature, the seminar could be useful for people with general interest in the concept of explanation as it functions in other areas of philosophy. Requirements include weekly participation and short exercises and a final term paper. TEXTS: Four Decades of Scientific Explanation, Wesley Salmon; Making Things Happen: A Theory of Causal Explanation, James Woodward; Depth: An Account of Scientific Explanation, Michael Strevens.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
The class will be run as a seminar, with brief lectures. The majority of time will be devoted to discussion, and student presentations will be frequent.
Recommended preparation
This seminar will presume a general background in philosophy and some familiarity with central topics within philosophy of science. Graduate students in the sciences or related disciplines such as history of science or science education are definitely welcome, space permitting, but should be prepared to do extra work to gain background in philosophy. Undergraduate philosophy majors with significant experience in philosophy of science will be considered, but priority will be given to graduate students.
Class assignments and grading
Students should be willing to participate in class discussion on a regular basis. Course requirements will include multiple class presentations and a substantial term paper.
