Part II Paper 5: Epistemology and Metaphysics of Science

Paper manager: Ahmad Elabbar

Also offered as an optional paper in Part IIB of the Human, Social and Political Sciences Tripos (HSPS) and Part IB of the Philosophy Tripos.

Overview

Lectures are held in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science.

Michaelmas Term

  • Realism
    Tim Lewens (8)
    Fri 11am (weeks 1–8)
  • Causality, Laws and Explanation
    Matt Farr (4), Anna Alexandrova (4)
    Wed 12noon (weeks 1–8)

Lent Term

  • Objectivity
    Ahmad Elabbar (4)
    Thu 12noon (weeks 1–4)
  • Aesthetics of Science
    Milena Ivanova (4)
    Fri 11am (weeks 1–4)
  • Models
    Ahmad Elabbar (4)
    Thu 12noon (weeks 5–8)
  • Probability
    Matt Farr (4)
    Fri 11am (weeks 5–8)

Introduction

This paper considers a series of central questions in the philosophy of science. Topics covered include whether we should believe that our best scientific theories are true, whether there are fundamental laws in science and what kind of things they are, how probabilistic reasoning is used in science and philosophy, how scientific models relate to the world and our knowledge of it, and in what senses science is and is not objective.

Aims and learning outcomes

  • to enable students to acquire a broad understanding of central issues in the philosophy of science and to develop their own views on current problems and debates;
  • to develop in students the ability to engage with scientific knowledge from multiple critical perspectives, and to address philosophical issues concerning particular sciences;
  • to strengthen students' skills in philosophical analysis, argumentation and communication.

Lectures

Realism

Tim Lewens (8 lectures, Michaelmas Term)

Those who admire the achievements of modern science tend to express their admiration along the lines of scientific realism: scientific theories could only be so successful if they give us a true account of nature. In this course we will subject this popular view to close philosophical scrutiny, and explore alternatives such as instrumentalism and constructive empiricism. We will also examine the more recent attempts to make scientific realism more defensible by introducing certain modifications to it, especially structural realism and perspectival realism.

Causality, Laws and Explanation

Matt Farr, Anna Alexandrova (8 lectures, Michaelmas Term)

How do scientific theories explain the world? These lectures examine the nature of causality and laws of nature, central notions within scientific theories, and consider different philosophical accounts of what they are, and the role they play in explaining and understanding phenomena. Specifying exactly what causality and laws of nature are has proven difficult, and we will consider a range of foundational philosophical questions, such as: is the world fundamentally causal? Are laws of nature merely useful descriptions of what actually happens in the world? And do good scientific theories need to be explanatory?

Objectivity

Ahmad Elabbar (4 lectures, Lent Term)

The thought that science is, at its best, 'objective' accounts for the privileged place it has in our decision making, both on personal matters but also in public policy. The 'objectivity' of science is often held up with envy as the standard all human inquiry should aspire to, and we are routinely cautioned not to trust the claims of research that lacks 'objectivity'. But what is objectivity in science? As it turns out, the notion of 'scientific objectivity' is as elusive as it is powerful – we can't seem to talk about science without invoking objectivity, but providing a plausible account of scientific objectivity is not straightforward. The aim of these lectures is to introduce the philosophical debate over the nature of scientific objectivity. The course begins by introducing a once dominant conception of scientific objectivity, known as the 'value-free ideal'. The course then surveys the main objections to the value-free ideal, and a number of influential alternative accounts of objectivity.

Aesthetics of Science

Milena Ivanova (4 lectures, Lent Term)

From Einstein's theory of relativity, the double helix model of DNA and the cosmic images produced by NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, scientific products are often celebrated for their aesthetic dimension and compared to works of art. Scientists themselves, like artists, are praised for their creativity, originality and aesthetic sensibility. But what role does beauty play in science? In this series we reflect on the aesthetic dimension of different scientific practices to address whether what epistemic role, if any, beauty plays in science, and what the deployment of aesthetic values shows us about the role of values in science.

Models

Ahmad Elabbar (4 lectures, Lent Term)

Modelling plays an essential role in the practice of science, from physics to economics, from epidemiology to volcanology. The models scientists build shape not only the development of theoretical knowledge but also practical decisions in profound ways: they guide political responses to climate change, pandemics, the design of the economy, and much else. This course provides an introduction to the rich philosophical literature on the nature and importance of models, both in science and in relation to public policy. The aims of the four lectures are: to give an account of what 'scientific models' are; to explore two important classes of models that arise across the sciences, namely 'data models' and 'simulation models'; to explore the stakes of modelling, and the standards for evaluating model performance; and to consider who ought to be involved in building influential models that inform public policy.

Probability

Matt Farr (4 lectures, Lent Term)

Probability plays a central role across many areas of science, from quantum physics to climate science. Yet it is one of the most puzzling concepts within science. This series of lectures looks at the many roles played by probability in science, including statistics, explanation, causation, and hypothesis confirmation. We will consider how the concept of probability is used in these different areas and look at the competing attempts to offer a coherent philosophical analysis of the concept of probability.

Preliminary reading

Resources for this paper