The course will examine philosophical issues raised by modern physics, biology and psychology (among other sciences). It will address questions such as the following: What distinguishes science from pseudo-science? Does science differ from philosophy and theology? Can scientific hypotheses be conclusively established through observation and experiment? What makes for a good scientific explanation? Does science converge on the truth about nature or provide merely useful predictive tools? What are the consequences of historical change in science for the rationality of science? Offered alternate years.
