Philosophy of Science and Ethics

Course goals

• reflect upon science and the scientific method;
• reflect upon moral problems in relation to (environmental) science;
• communicate to a general audience on environmental issues, using philosophical tools & knowledge.

Content

When analyzing an elephant with only a microscope, you won’t easily grasp the big picture. That is the risk of scientific specialization.
This course is about zooming out, looking for the big picture, and reflecting on the relations between science and ethics:

1. Firstly we will analyze the scientific method. How does science work? What is the difference between scientific and pseudo-scientific knowledge claims? (Philosophy of science).
2. Secondly, we will reflect on the moral question ‘How are we to live?’, and the political philosophical question ‘What is a just society?’ (Ethics, political philosophy)
3. Thirdly, we will focus on two important moral issues: the humans-nonhuman animals relation, and the humans-nature relation, which addresses the environmental problems including climate change. (Animal ethics, environmental ethics).

This course contains an Honours component on Bilding (open to all students).

This course is the entry requirement for:

• Bachelor’s thesis GSS (GEO3-2422).