Science and Society

This course has two main, and connected, goals: the first is to introduce some of the main conceptual tools from the philosophy of science, and the second is to take those tools to the critical analysis of case studies in which science and broader society are importantly entwined.

We will investigate a number of questions, such as:

• Is there a sharp distinction between fact and value, with science only dealing in facts, while values are strictly subjective?

• What, if any, values influence science, and what values should influence science?

• What influence, in turn, should science have on values?

• What is objectivity? How do we get to an objective view of the world?

• Is ignorance sometimes deliberately manufactured?

This is just a sampler of some of the gripping questions we will broach. Along the way, we will look at case studies of major contemporary concern, such as climate change, psychiatry, and psychiatric disorders, and gender.

Note: Check with the institution regarding start/end dates, prices, and delivery method. These may vary according to program, section, and/or semester.