Summary of the Philosophy and Ethics (2020/2021) course given in the Nanobiology program. The summary is obtained from the information provided in the pre-recorded lectures that are linked inside the summary.
Philosophy of Science
Lecturer: Tim de Mey, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Compiled by: Merryweather
,Table of Contents
Extra References 4
The History of the Thought Experiment 4
Types of Thought Experiments (Tamar Gendler’s Typology) 5
Factive Thought Experiments 5
Conceptual Thought Experiments 5
Evaluative Thought Experiments 5
Modules 5
Conceptual Analysis as a method 5
Frankfurt’s Decision Demon 6
Types of knowledge 7
Propositional Knowledge 7
Gettier Problem 8
No False Grounds Premise 8
No Defeaters Premise 8
Causal Analysis of Knowledge Premise 8
Nozick’s Premise - Truth tracking Analysis of Knowledge Premise 9
Positivism 10
The Theological Stage 10
The Metaphysical Stage 10
The Positive Stage 11
The Idea of the Unity of Science and The Scientific Method 11
Empiricism 11
Metaphysical Skepticism 11
Epistemological Skepticism 11
John Locke (1632-1704) 11
George Berkeley (1685-1753) 12
John Stuart Mill (1806-1873) 12
Thomas Reid (1710-1796) 12
The Widely Accepted Solution 12
The Roles of Philosophy and Science 12
Extension on the Possibility of Knowledge 12
Skeptic Alternatives 13
Counters 13
The Definition of the Philosopher of Science 14
The Philosophy of Science 14
Verification Theory of Meaning 14
Hume’s Fork 14
, Relations of Ideas - Analytic Propositions 15
Matters of Fact - Synthetic Propositions 15
Verification Theory of Meaning 15
Physicalism and Phenomenalism 15
The Phenomenalist’s Dream 15
On Sharing Scientific Knowledge 16
Extension on Rudolf Carnap 16
Popper’s Demarcation Problem 17
Hume’s Problem 18
Demarcation Problem 18
Popper’s Problem 18
Kuhn’s Structure of Scientific Revolutions 19
Scientific Revolutions 19
Normal Science 19
Revolutionary Science 19
A Deep Gap 20
Competition or Conformity 20
Lakatos for Method 22
Research Programmes 22
Types of Research Programmes 22
Laudan’s Research Traditions 22
Laudan’s Third Context 22
Feyerabend’s Endless Sea of Alternatives 23
Free Competition of Ideas 23
The True Heir of John Stuart Mill 23
Underdetermination 25
Orman Quine and Two Dogmas of Empiricism 26
Analytic and Synthetic Statements - Dogma I 26
Reductionism - Dogma II 26
Defining the Problem 27
Interactionism 27
Parallelism 27
Harmonia Praestabilita 27
Occasionalism 27
Double-aspect Theory 28
Epiphenomenalism 28
Materialism and Monism 28
Gilbert Ryle’s The Concept of Mind 28
Logical / Philosophical Behaviourism 28
Objections 28
, Problem of Specification 28
Qualitative Objections (Popular train of thought) 29
Reductive Materialism / Brain-state theory / Identity Theory 29
Qualitative Objections 29
Multiple Realisations 29
Functionalism 29
Philosophical Zombies (Extension on Qualia) 30
Inverted Spectrum (Popular train of thought) 30
Eliminativism of Paul and Patricia Churchland 30
The Knowledge Objection 30
Fatalism 31
Causal Determinism 31
How is Determinism the Death of Free Will? 31
Compatibilism 32
Counterexamples 32
Frankfurt’s Hierarchical Compatibilism 33
The Occasional Drug User 33
Purple Chapters belong to the ‘Thought Experiments’ module
Black Chapters belong to the ‘Science in Progress’ module
Red Chapters do not belong to any module in particular
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