Philosophical Perspectives on Science

MSc in Science Communication & MSc in Science Education

Prof Helena Sheehan
Dr Donal O Mathuna

timetable spring 2009

11 February       HS 

overview of module
 

18 February     HS 

history of science: how is the history of science connected to the history of philosophy, economics, politics, culture in the modern period?
 

25 February     HS

philosophy of science 1: why the trajectory from positivism to neo-positivism to post-positivism?

 
 4 March    HS

philosophy of science 2 marxism: what do its politics & economics have to do with epistemology & science?
 

11 March           HS

sociology of knowledge: how does it apply to science?
science wars: who are the combatants & why the combat?

 
18 March         HS 

knowledge & power: how have class, race & gender impacted on the history of knowledge?

 
25 March

reading week 

1 April    HS & DO'M
      

science & religion: compatible or contradictory? a debate

8 April        DO'M

ethics of science: how to decide what is right and wrong in science? can ethical theories help to determine what is right and wrong in stem cell research?

         
15 April     DO'M

health research funding: what are the ethical issues in deciding whether to fund treatments for TB or ED or diagnostics for HIV or LDL?

 
22 April       DO’M 

big pharma's impact on scientific research: providing evidence for practice or distorting data for profit?


29 April     
DO’M

nanoethics: what are the ethical issues with using nanotechnology to cure diseases, extend life indefinitely & direct human evolution?

 
6 May

diaries due



course diaries

philosophical perspectives on science