Philosophy and the Sciences: Introduction to the Philosophy of Physical Sciences

About this course: What is the origin of our universe? What are dark matter and dark energy? This is the first part of the course 'Philosophy and the Sciences', dedicated to Philosophy of the Physical Sciences. Scientific research across the physical sciences has raised pressing questions for philosophers. The goal of this course is to introduce you to some of the main areas and topics at the key juncture between philosophy and the physical sciences. Each week we will introduce you to some of these important questions at the forefront of scientific research. We will explain the science behind each topic in a simple, non-technical way, while also addressing the philosophical and conceptual questions arising from it. We’ll consider questions about the origin and evolution of our universe, the nature of dark energy and dark matter and the role of anthropic reasoning in the explanation of our universe. Learning Objectives Gain a fairly well-rounded view on selected areas and topics at the intersection of philosophy and the sciences Understand some key questions, and conceptual problems arising in the natural sciences. Develop critical skills to evaluate and assess these problems. Suggested Reading To accompany 'Philosophy and the Sciences', we are pleased to announce a tie-in book from Routledge entitled 'Philosophy and the Sciences for Everyone'. This course companion to the 'Philosophy and the Sciences' course was written by the Edinburgh Philosophy and the Sciences team expressly with the needs of MOOC students in mind. 'Philosophy and the Sciences for Everyone' contains clear and user-friendly chapters, chapter summaries, glossary, study questions, suggestions for further reading and guides to online resources. Please note, this companion book is optional - all the resources needed to complete the course are available freely and listed on the course site.

Who is this class for: This course is for everyone interested in learning about the historical and philosophical foundations of contemporary science and exploring cutting-edge debates in the philosophy of the physical sciences.

Created by:  The University of Edinburgh

• Taught by:   Professor Michela Massimi, Full Professor

  Philosophy

• Taught by:  Dr. Alasdair Richmond, Dr.

  Philosophy

• Taught by:  Dr. Suilin Lavelle, Lecturer in Philosophy

  University of Edinburgh

• Taught by:  Dr David Carmel, Lecturer

  Psychology

• Taught by:  Dr Mark Sprevak, Senior Lecturer

  School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences

• Taught by:  Professor Duncan Pritchard, Professor of Philosophy

  University of Edinburgh

• Taught by:  Professor Andy Clark

  School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences

• Taught by:  Professor John Peacock, Professor of Cosmology

  Institute for Astronomy

• Taught by:  Professor Barbara Webb

  School of Informatics

• Taught by:  Dr Kenny Smith

  School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences

• Taught by:  Dr Peggy Series

  Institute for Adaptive and Neural Computation

• Taught by:  Louise Connelly, E-Learning Developer

  University of Edinburgh

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Syllabus


WEEK 1


What is this thing called science? (Michela Massimi and Duncan Pritchard)
Introduction to philosophy of science: the nature of scientific knowledge, the debates about the scientific method and the problem of underdetermination.


3 videos, 6 readings expand

1. Video: 1.1 Intro
2. Video: 1.2 What is Science?
3. Video: 1.3 Duhem & Kuhn
4. Reading: Lecture slides
5. Reading: Recommendation for reading
6. Reading: Epistemic relativism
7. Reading: Inductivism and Falsificationism
8. Discussion Prompt: Scientific Realism
9. Reading: Underdetermination
10. Reading: Philosophers

Graded: Week 1 Practice Quiz: What is this thing called science?

WEEK 2


Week 2: The origins of our universe (Michela Massimi and John Peacock)
How did our universe form and evolve? Was there really a Big Bang, and what came before it?


5 videos, 6 readings expand

1. Video: 2.1 The origins of our universe
2. Video: 2.2 A Very Brief History of Cosmology part I
3. Video: 2.2 A Very Brief History of Cosmology part II
4. Video: 2.3 Cosmology & Scientific Methodology
5. Video: 2.4 Conclusion
6. Reading: Lecture slides
7. Reading: Recommendation for reading
8. Reading: General overview of modern cosmology
9. Reading: Unobservability and indistinguishable spacetimes
10. Discussion Prompt: Popper and Cosmology
11. Reading: Smolin on cosmology, time and laws
12. Reading: Chris Smeenk

Graded: Week 2 Quiz: The origins of the universe

WEEK 3


Week 3: Dark Matter and Dark Energy (Michela Massimi and John Peacock)
According to the currently accepted model in cosmology, our universe is made up of 5% of ordinary matter, 25% cold dark matter, and 70% dark energy. But what kind of entities are dark matter and dark energy?


5 videos, 6 readings expand

1. Video: 3.1 Introduction
2. Video: 3.2 Dark Matter & Dark Energy part I
3. Video: 3.2 Dark Matter & Dark Energy part II
4. Video: 3.3 What prospects for Cosmology?
5. Video: 3.4 Conclusion
6. Reading: Lecture Slides
7. Reading: Find and share news on the frontiers of science!
8. Reading: Recommendation for reading
9. Reading: On Kuhn and the rationality of theory choice
10. Reading: Underdetermination of theory by evidence
11. Discussion Prompt: Underdetermination and cosmology
12. Reading: Dark matter and dark energy

Graded: Week 3 Quiz: Dark matter and dark energy

WEEK 4


Week 4: The anthropic principle and multiverse cosmology (Alasdair Richmond and John Peacock)
Anthropic reasoning attempts to understand peculiarities of the physical universe via context-sensitive observers in a multiverse of different distinct universes. What are the problems and prospects of this view?


3 videos, 5 readings expand

1. Video: 4.1 The Anthropic Principle and Philosophy
2. Video: 4.2 The Anthropic Principle and Cosmology Part I
3. Video: 4.2 The Anthropic Principle and Cosmology Part II
4. Reading: Lecture Slides
5. Peer Review: Write an essay: Philosophy of Cosmology
6. Reading: Recommendation for reading
7. Reading: Inflationary cosmology
8. Reading: Multiverse Cosmology
9. Reading: Alasdair Richmond
10. Discussion Prompt: Fine-tuning and the multiverse

Graded: Week 4 Quiz: The anthropic principle and multiverse cosmology

Philosophy and the Sciences Part 2



1 reading expand

1. Reading: Introduction to the Philosophy of Cognitive Sciences