| 课程号 |
02334141 |
学分 |
2 |
| 英文名称 |
Summer School on Philosophy of Science |
| 先修课程 |
No Prerequisite. Open to any undergraduate student interested in the philosophy of science. |
| 中文简介 |
这门课程提供了对物理学和生物学哲学基础的跨学科探索，旨在阐明它们的概念框架和方法论。通过整合物理学哲学和生物学哲学的见解，学生将深入了解这些科学领域内的基本问题、假设和争论。
课程的第一周将探讨物理学哲学，审视空间、时间、因果关系和物理定律等基础概念。学生将批判性地分析量子力学、相对论和热力学等理论对我们对现实、决定论和科学知识界限的理解的影响。
第二周的焦点将转向生物学哲学，学生将探索生命的本质、演化、复杂性以及在生物系统中目的论的作用。主题可能包括物种的定义、自然选择机制、基因与性状之间的关系，以及遗传学发展的哲学意义。
整个课程将关注物理学和生物学之间的交叉点，包括对涌现、还原主义和科学统一性的讨论。学生将培养批判性思维能力，并对物理学和生物学的哲学基础有着细致的理解。他们将能够对科学理论进行批判性评估，阐明自己的哲学立场，并欣赏不同科学学科之间的相互联系。 |
| 英文简介 |
This course offers an interdisciplinary exploration of the philosophical underpinnings of both physics and biology, aiming to elucidate their conceptual frameworks, methodologies, and implications. By integrating insights from the philosophy of physics and the philosophy of biology, students will gain a deep understanding of the fundamental questions, assumptions, and debates within these sciences.
The first week of the course delves into the philosophy of physics, examining foundational concepts such as space, time, causality, and the nature of physical laws. Students will critically analyze the implications of theories such as quantum mechanics, relativity, and thermodynamics on our understanding of reality, determinism, and the limits of scientific knowledge.
In the second week, the focus shifts to the philosophy of biology, where students will explore the nature of life, evolution, complexity, and the role of teleology in biological systems. Topics may include the nature of species, the mechanisms of natural selection, the relationship between genes and traits, and the philosophical implications of developments in genetics and synthetic biology.
Throughout the course, attention will be given to the intersections between physics and biology, including discussions on emergence, reductionism, and the unity of science. Students will have developed critical thinking skills and a nuanced understanding of the philosophical foundations of both physics and biology. They will be equipped to critically evaluate scientific theories, articulate their own philosophical positions, and appreciate the interconnectedness of different scientific disciplines. |
| 开课院系 |
哲学系 |
| 成绩记载方式 |
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| 通识课所属系列 |
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| 授课语言 |
英文 |
| 教材 |
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| 参考书 |
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| 教学大纲 |
To provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the fundamental principles, methodologies, and debates in the philosophy of biology and philosophy of physics, enabling them to critically analyze and evaluate scientific theories, practices, and the nature of scientific knowledge in those two disciplines.
A. Philosophy of Physics, by Don Howard (July 1-July 7)
This will be a survey of the main topics of discussion in contemporary philosophy of physics. No background in physics will be required, the relevant scientific content being presented in a manner fully accessible to a general audience. Here is the schedule:
For each day, there will be a two-hour lecture and a two-hour discussion.
July 1. The Methods and Fruits of Science
July 2. Motion and Inertia
July 3. Relativity and Its Philosophy
July 4. Reduction and Irreversibility
July 5. Quantum Theory and Its Interpretation
B. Philosophy of Biology, by Peter Takacs (July 8-July 14)
This will be a survey of several prominent topics in contemporary philosophy of biology, construed broadly so as to include medicine. No background in biology is required. Relevant scientific content will be introduced in a manner fully accessible to a general audience. The schedule is as follows:
For each day, there will be a two-hour lecture and a 1.5 hour discussion.
July 8. The Life Sciences Come of Age: From the Darwinian Revolution to an Extended Evolutionary Synthesis
July 9. Fitness and Individuality
July 10. Function and Adaptation
July 11. Units/Levels of Selection
July 12. Evolution, Human Behavior, and Morality
Lectures and discussions
1. Active participation in class discussions and engagement with the course material (40%)
2. A final essay analyzes and evaluates one particular philosophical difference between physics and biology (60%)
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| 教学评估 |
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