Philosophy

Kuhn’s Structure of Scientific Revolutions, challenged traditional conceptions of science and scientific progress and precipitated much of contemporary discussions in philosophy of science. Focusing on the history of science, Kuhn argued that logical reconstructions of science were inadequate. His argument encouraged philosophers of science to construct relativistic accounts of science and scientific progress. Beginning with the Logical Positivists, this course will trace different accounts of science, with special attention to the debate between realist and anti-realist conceptions of science.