Reading Assignments

(The readings are from Philosophy of Natural Science by Carl Hempel and The Structure of Scientific Revolutions by Thomas Kuhn are listed by author and chapter number(s). Readings from The Philosophy of Science, edited by David Papineau, are listed by author and title followed by "PoS:" and page numbers, in parentheses. There are also a few further readings that are labeled "photocopy" or "on-line". Photocopies are available for duplication at the Reserve Desk in the library.)

• For Sept. 2: Read "The Fixation of Belief" by Peirce (photocopy/on-line). You might also want to look at Peirce's other "popular" piece, "How to Make Our Ideas Clear".
• For Sept. 4: Read Hempel, Chapters 1 and 2.
• For Sept. 9: Read Hempel, Chapters 3 and 4.
• For Sept. 16: Read the Popper Selections (photocopy/on-line), pp. 118-161.
• For Sept. 18-25: Hurricane Isabel--Class canceled. Goodman's "New Riddle of Induction" (photocopy/on-line) is now an optional reading.
• For Sept. 30: Read pp. 162-170 from the Popper Selections and read Hempel, Chapter 5.
• For Oct. 2: Read Hempel, Chapter 6.
• For Oct. 9: Read Hempel, Chapters 7 and 8.
• For Oct. 14: Read "Two Dogmas of Empiricism" by Quine (photocopy/on-line). The following Reading Questions might help you focus on important points. Also, look at the topics for the First Paper, due Tuesday, Oct. 21, and familiarize yourself with my Paper Requirements and Policies.
• For Oct. 21: First Papers due.
• For Oct. 23: Read Kuhn, Preface and Chapters I and II.
• For Oct. 28: Read Kuhn, Chapters III-VI.
• For Oct. 30: Read Kuhn, Chapters VII-VIII.
• For Nov. 4: Read Kuhn, Chapters IX-XII.
• For Nov. 6: Read Kuhn, Chapter XIII and Postscript.
• For Nov. 11: Read "Arguments Concerning Scientific Realism" by van Fraassen (photocopy/on-line). (Skip from the bottom of p. 26 to the bottom of p. 30.)
• For Nov. 13: Read "To Save the Phenomena" by van Fraassen (PoS 82-92).
• For Nov. 18: Read "The Current Status of Scientific Realism" by Boyd (photocopy/on-line).
• For Nov. 25: Read "A Confutation of Convergent Realism" by Laudan (PoS 107-138). Also, look at the topics for the Second Paper, due Wednesday, Dec. 10th. (Note the new due date).
• For Dec. 2: Read "What Science Aims to Do" by Ellis (PoS 166-193) and "The Natural Ontological Attitude" by Fine (PoS 21-44).
• For Dec. 4: Read "NOA's Ark--Fine for Realism" by Musgrave (PoS 45-60).
• For Dec. 10: Second Papers due in my mailbox by 3pm.
• For Dec. 15: Final Exam at 1:30pm. Bring a bluebook.

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Last updated Nov. 30, 2003

This site is maintained by James A. Woodbridge.

This document was created on August 26, 2003.