This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 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.

ATS2867 - Thinking about science

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

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

Faculty

Arts

Organisational Unit

Philosophy

Coordinator(s)

Dr Monima Chadha (on-campus); Dr Sam Butchart (off-campus)

Offered

Clayton

First semester 2016 (Flexible)
Second semester 2016 (Flexible)
Summer semester A 2016 (Flexible)

Notes

The unit is offered as part of the Philosophy Flexible Learning programPhilosophy Flexible Learning program (http://artsonline.monash.edu.au/philosophy/flexible-learning/).
The unit may be offered as part of the Summer Arts ProgramSummer Arts Program (http://www.monash.edu/students/courses/arts/summer-program.html).

Synopsis

Unit looks at the growth of scientific theories from the standpoint of three humanities disciplines - history, philosophy and sociology - using a case study method. On completion, students will have an acquaintance with several important developments in the history of science, and have thought about issues in the philosophy of science and sociology of knowledge. They will also have read Thomas Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, and so have encountered one of the most important books on science written in the 20th C. Three case studies will be presented and students will undertake an individual case study under supervision.

Outcomes

Have an understanding of major theoretical approaches to the nature of science;
Have familiarity with a variety of case studies in the history of science;
Have improved their skills in analysing and interpreting philosophical texts;
Have developed some skills in reading and analysing historical scientific texts;
Have developed skills in criticising philosophical accounts of scientific progress.

Assessment

Within semester assessment: 75%
Exam: 25%

Workload requirements

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Monima Chadha

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