PHIL 365 Philosophy of Science

We will look at a number of episodes in the history of science. Among the issues that will be addressed will be the following: When should we consider evidence as confirming a theory? What considerations should we use to decide between competing theories? Should we view our best theories as true or merely empirically adequate? Can there be a logic of scientific discovery? We will read works by philosophers and scientists including van Fraassen Reichenbach Feyerabend Newton and Galileo.