Course Syllabus Science, Technology, and Society 1 2T AY 2011-2012 COLLEGE: Liberal Arts COURSE CODE: SOCTEC1 LECTURER: Jeremiah

Joven Joaquin, PhD FACILITATORS: Robert James Boyles & Mark Anthony Dacela DEPARTMENT: Philosophy ROOM: A903 SCHEDULES: WS 0940-110; 11201250 CONSULTATION HOURS: MTH 0930-1200; 1330-1500 (by appointment)

COURSE DESCRIPTION SOCTEC1 is a ramification of the general discipline known as Science & Technological Studies (STS). STS is a multidisciplinary approach which investigates the nature and status of science and technology. Owing from the critiques made by social scientists and humanities scholars back in the 1960s and 1970s, current work in STS focuses on (1) how social factors (e.g. politics, gender, culture, etc.) influence scientific and technological research and development, and (2) how advancements in science and technology, in turn, influence the development of society. This course, however, deviates from this. In effect, instead of inquiring about the social factors which affect the development of science and technologya question which assumes the truth of the criticisms of sciencewe start with the more basic question, What makes science, the natural sciences, so special?a question which started the whole STS business. LEARNING OUTCOMES On completion of the course, the student is expected to be able to do the following: CLA ELGA Critical and Creative Knowledge Producer Socially Responsible and Collaborative Citizen Competent Professional Diversity-sensitive Communicator Morally Principled and Faith-inspired Leader LEARNING PLAN LEARNING OUTCOME TOPIC WEEK LEARNING ACTIVITIES LEARNING OUTCOME Identify the different theoretical and practical aspects of science and technology Understand how science affects technology and the modern society, and vice versa Explain the key issues on the nature of science Analyze and evaluate the debates regarding the theory-ladenness of observation, scientific realism, etc. Examine the relationship between science and religionthat is, whether or not they are in dialogue, independent or in conflict with one another

Identify the different theoretical and practical aspects of science

Understand how science affects technology and the modern society, and vice versa Explain the key issues on the nature of science Analyze and evaluate the debates regarding the theoryladenness of observation, scientific realism, etc. Examine the relationship between science and religion that is, whether or not they are in dialogue, independent or in conflict with one another COURSE REQUIREMENTS LEARNING OUTCOME Identify the different theoretical and practical aspects of science Understand how science affects technology and the modern society, and vice-versa Examine the relationship between science and religion that is, whether or not they are in dialogue, independent or in conflict with one

1. Rational Reconstruction Program 2. The Historicist Program and Social Constructivism 3. A Reply to the Historicist Program 4. Effects of Technology

3 10 11

Lecture; Filmviewing; Guided reading sessions; Role-playing; Exam

12

Film-viewing; Science Fair; Poster Lecture Lecture; Experiments; Guided reading sessions; Filmviewing Lecture

5. Demarcation Problem 6. Observation and Measurement 7. Experimentation and Realism 8. Scientific Explanation 9. Recapitulation: Science and Technology Studies

1&2 3&4 5&6 7&8 13

REQUIRED OUTPUT Exam Role-playing Activity Poster-making Activity Science Fair

DUE Week 9 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13

another Explain the key issue about the nature of science Analyze and evaluate the debates regarding the theory-ladenness of observation, scientific realism, etc.

Observation and Measurement Activities Science Experiment

Week 3 Week 6

GRADING SOCTEC1 adopts a point accumulation system. Each activity has the following equivalent points: ACTIVITY POINTS Exam 30 Poster 10 Science Experiment 10 Observation and Measurement 20 Role-playing 10 Science Fair 20 TOTAL: 100 To pass the course, students must earn 70 points. Final grades will be based on the following point equivalence table: POINTS 97-100 94-96 89-93 85-88 80-84 75-79 70-74 0 69 Grade 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.0

REQUIRED READING As a primary text, this course will use some relevant chapters in David Boersemas Philosophy of Science: Text with Readings (2009 Pearson Prentice-Hall). The suggested further readings at the end of each of the chosen chapters will serve as supplementary readings. CLASSROOM POLICIES Class Participation Your active participation in class discussions and activities is important for you to pass the course. Honesty Cheating, plagiarism, forgery and other forms of dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be grounds for a failing grade and other disciplinary action.

Cellphones & other electronic gadgets - Cellphones should be kept off or on silent mode during classes. You can use a computer but make sure it's for note-taking. MP3 players and video players are inappropriate.

COURSE SCHEDULE DATE Sept. 7 DAY W TOPIC/ACTIVITY/OUTPUT Introduction to the Course

Part 1: The Epistemic Status of Science and the Rational Reconstruction Program Sept. 10 Sept. 14 Sept. 17 Sept. 21 Sept. 24 S W S W S Film-viewing: Galileo Lecture: Why is science so special? Lecture: The Demarcation Problem (Science, Non-science, and Pseudoscience) Lecture: The Rational Reconstruction Program Activity 1: Observation Activity 2: Measurement Guided Reading* Hanson, Patterns of Discovery Schaeffer, Science and Subjectivity Jones, Physics as Metaphor Lecture: Objectivity, Observation, and Measurement Assessment* Activity 3: Scientific Experiments Guided Reading* Ian Hacking, Representing and Intervening Arthur Fine, The Natural Ontological Attitude Lecture: Realism and Science Guided Reading* Carl Hempel and Paul Oppenheim, Studies in the Logic of Explanation Wesley Salmon, Scientific Explanation and the Causal Structure of the World Bas van Fraasen, The Scientific Image Lecture: Theories of Scientific Explanation Assessment* Part 2: Critics of Science Oct. 26 Oct. 29 W S Film-viewing: A Beautiful Mind Guided Reading* Thomas Kuhn, The Structure of Scientific Revolution Imre Lakatos, The Methodology of Scientific Research Programs Paul Feyerabend, Against Method Activity 4: Role-playing Lecture: The Historicist Program and Social Constructivism Summary Lecture Review Break* Exam

Sept. 28 Oct. 1 Oct. 5 Oct. 8

W S W S

Oct. 12 Oct. 15

W S

Oct. 19 Oct. 22

W S

Nov. 2 Nov. 5 Nov. 9 Nov. 12 Nov. 16

W S W S W

Nov. 19

Evaluation Part 3. Divergence and Convergence

Nov. 23 Nov. 26 Nov. 30 Dec. 3 Dec. 7 Dec. 10

W S W S W S

Final Lecture: Irrationalism and Bayesianism Activity 5: Poster-making (the effects of technology) No Class (Bonifacio Day) Preparation for the Science Fair* Final Activity: Science Fair