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Philosophy of Science - PHIL 220

Covers scientific reasoning, explanation, causation, theory choice, falsification, evidence, models, and debates about scientific knowledge.

Study Tools

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Study guides

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8 Scientific Knowledge and Its Limits

Examine what scientific theories can tell us about reality, how objectivity and values shape inquiry, how science changes, and why scientific conclusions remain open to revision.
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7 Theory Choice and Scientific Change

Learn how scientists compare competing theories, weigh evidence and explanatory virtues, and revise judgments as new tests and findings become available.
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5 Models and Representation

Learn how scientific models represent selected features of systems, support investigation, and must be evaluated in light of their purpose, assumptions, evidence, scope, and uncertainty.
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4 Causation and Scientific Inquiry

Learn how causal questions differ from associations, how experiments and observational studies support causal conclusions, and what assumptions and limitations shape the evidence.
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6 Testing Theories and Falsification

Learn how scientific theories are tested against evidence, why successful predictions do not prove a theory, and how assumptions and competing explanations shape theory choice.
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3 Scientific Explanation

Compare how scientific explanations use laws, mechanisms, and unifying patterns, including the strengths and limits of each approach.
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1 Questions and Aims of Philosophy of Science

Explore the central questions of philosophy of science and how methods, evidence, and criticism support and revise scientific knowledge.
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2 Scientific Reasoning and Evidence

Learn how observations, inferences, inductive and deductive reasoning, and evidence work together to support scientific conclusions.
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Quizzes

8

6 Testing Theories and Falsification

A medium-difficulty quiz on testing scientific theories, interpreting evidence, and reasoning about failed predictions and theory choice.
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3 Scientific Explanation

A medium-difficulty quiz on how law-based, mechanistic, and unificationist accounts explain scientific phenomena.
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4 Causation and Scientific Inquiry

A medium-difficulty quiz on causal inference, experimental and observational designs, bias, and evaluating causal arguments.
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5 Models and Representation

A medium-difficulty quiz on how scientific models represent systems, support investigation, and should be evaluated.
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2 Scientific Reasoning and Evidence

Assess understanding of observation, inference, reasoning, and how evidence supports scientific conclusions.
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1 Questions and Aims of Philosophy of Science

A medium-difficulty quiz on the aims of philosophy of science, scientific practice and knowledge, evidence, methods, models, and the limits of scientific conclusions.
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8 Scientific Knowledge and Its Limits

A medium-difficulty quiz on scientific realism, objectivity, progress, and the limits of scientific knowledge.
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7 Theory Choice and Scientific Change

A medium-difficulty quiz on how scientists compare competing theories, weigh evidence and explanatory criteria, and revise conclusions as new evidence becomes available.
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Flashcards

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4 Causation and Scientific Inquiry

Learn how scientists distinguish causation from association and evaluate causal claims using experiments, observational studies, and explicit assumptions.
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7 Theory Choice and Scientific Change

Explore how scientists compare competing theories, weigh evidence and explanatory virtues, and revise conclusions as knowledge develops.
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2 Scientific Reasoning and Evidence

Review how observations, inferences, induction, deduction, and evidence contribute to scientific conclusions.
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1 Questions and Aims of Philosophy of Science

Explore how philosophy of science examines scientific methods, evidence, explanations, objectivity, and the development of knowledge.
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3 Scientific Explanation

Explore how scientific explanations derive phenomena from laws, describe mechanisms, unify patterns, and where each approach has limits.
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6 Testing Theories and Falsification

Review how scientists test theories, interpret evidence, and compare explanations when predictions succeed or fail.
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8 Scientific Knowledge and Its Limits

Review debates about scientific realism, objectivity, progress, and the limits of evidence, models, and scientific conclusions.
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5 Models and Representation

Review how scientific models represent selected features, simplify systems, support investigation, and are evaluated against their purpose and evidence.
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