Undergraduate - UnitATS2864 - Making knowledge: Modern scientific controversies

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2012 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Arts
Offered	Not offered in 2012
Coordinator(s)	Homer Le Grand

Notes

Previously coded PHL2115

Synopsis

The analysis of controversies over knowledge claims in science - claims about data, instruments, techniques, theories and world-views - reveals the provisional, revisable and dynamic character of scientific knowledge. This often results in controversies within one or more disciplines, the resolution of which may be the inclusion, removal or modification of what is accepted by the scientific community as valid knowledge. Student will gain a familiarity with several competing interpretations of this process and how these may be applied to a range of past and present controversies drawn primarily from the earth sciences.

Assessment

Written work: 70% (3500 words)
Tutorial exercises: 30%

Chief examiner(s)

Homer Le Grand

Contact hours

2 hours (1 x 2 hour seminar) per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Philosophy

Prerequisites

12 points in Philosophy, History or Social Sciences, or 18 points in Science at any level.