Philosophy of Science | Makerere University Courses

Course Code:

PHI 2206

Course Credit Units:

3

Semester:

Semester 2

Year of Study:

Year 2

Undergraduate or Graduate Level:

Undergraduate Level

Academic Programs:

Bachelor Of Arts (Arts)

College:

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

School:

School of Liberal and Performing Arts

Department:

Philosophy and Development studies

Course Discipline:

Arts

Course Description & Objectives:

The course investigates into the nature of scientific knowledge, scientific explanation, scientific truth and scientific method. It considers ideas related to observation, experimentation and hypothesis; verification and falsification; law and theory in scientific inquiry, scientific theories and laws; paradigms; scientific discoveries; the experimental procedure; induction and probability, determinism, casual and statistical explanations, probability confirmation, the demarcation between science and pseudo-science. Course Objective :

The purpose of this course is to enable students study and understand the nature of scientific knowledge and how it emerged from certain philosophical paradigms. To enable students investigate the fundamentals of scientific reasoning, discovery and justification.

Learning Outcomes:

To enable students appreciate the deep philosophical questions that underlie science
To enable students to articulate the method of science
Enable students use philosophical approach to distinguish between genuine and pseudo- or “junk” science