Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Rachael Brown
Contact via rachael.brown@mq.edu.au
W6A Rm 726
By appointment (rachael.brown@mq.edu.au)
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
12cp or admission to GDipArts
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
How does science work? Should scientific method be privileged over other ways of knowing? How do scientific theories change over time? Should the history of science be seen as an unfolding tale of intellectual and technological progress, or as a messier and ambivalent process? This unit introduces central issues in the philosophy of science, including: the nature of observation and experiment; the question of scientific realism; the rationality or irrationality of scientific revolutions; the relation between science and values; and the nature of explanation. This unit presumes no particular background in science – it is suitable for students with a background in arts disciplines as well as for students in the social, behavioural, biological, and physical sciences.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Short persuasive writing task | 15% | 14/08/15 |
Research Essay Plan | 5% | 16/10/15 |
Research Essay | 40% | 13/11/15 |
Weekly blog and reflection | 20% | 02/11/15 |
Participation | 20% | Weekly |
Due: 14/08/15
Weighting: 15%
All students will complete a 750 word persuasive writing piece.
Submission: iLearn
Grading: Students will receive a grade out of 100 for the paper.
Due: 16/10/15
Weighting: 5%
Students will produce a detailed plan of the research paper for peer review. An planning worksheet will be provided on iLearn.
Submission Instructions for Internal Students: Students will bring their plan to tutorial in week 10 for peer discussion and feedback.
Submission Instructions for External Students: External students will post their essay plans to the external students forum and provide feedback on at least one other plan.
Grading: Pass/Fail.
Due: 13/11/15
Weighting: 40%
Students will write a research paper of 2000 words which provides a careful critical examination, based on reasons, argumentation and evidence, of a set topic. A list of topics will be made available on iLearn in week 7, and the research paper must answer one of these set questions.
Submission: Turnitin submission on iLearn
Grading: Students will receive a grade out of 100 for the paper.
Due: 02/11/15
Weighting: 20%
All students are expected to complete a short weekly reflective blog post (100-200 words) on the reading material. These posts should be critical reflections on the reading (rather than summaries). The completion of at least 6 weekly blog posts is a hurdle requirement for this assessment. At the end of semester, students will select three of these posts on which to write a 750 word reflection which will be assessed.
Submission: iLearn
Grading: Those students completing a minimum of 6 weekly blog posts, will receive a grade out of 100 for their reflection.
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 20%
Internal students are required to attend 70% of all tutorials, prepare for tutorials and to participate in discussion of required readings for each tutorial.
Class participation marking criteria:
(Adapted from Tyler, J. (2004) Class Participation Assessment Guide. Department of Education, Brown University).
External students should provide courteous and relevant feedback on the blog posts of at least two other students in 7 weeks of the semester. The marking criteria are the same as for internal students.
Submission: Weekly in-class (internal students), Weekly on iLearn (external students)
Grading: Students will receive a grade out of 10 for participation (an interim report on participation will be provided to all students at mid-semester)
Lectures: Wednesdays, 10am-12noon (E6B Rm 117)
Tutorials: Fridays, 1-2pm (W5C 302) and 3-4pm (W5C 311)
Prescribed Texts (all students are expected to have access to a copy of these texts)
All other course materials will be provided through iLearn and the e-Reserve.
The unit website is available through iLearn (http://ilearn.mq.edu.au). It contains essential resources for the unit, and you are expected to log in on a regular basis.
Week |
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Key Dates |
1 |
Introduction: What has philosophy got to do with science? |
NO TUTORIALS THIS WEEK |
WHAT IS SCIENCE? CONCEPTIONS OF SCIENCE AND SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS | ||
2 |
What is Science? Science Vs. Pseudoscience |
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3 |
Naive Inductivism |
NO TUTORIALS THIS WEEK Short writing task due (14/08) |
4 |
Popper: Falsificationism |
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5 |
Kuhn: Scientific Revolutions |
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6 |
Case Study: Is "Intelligent Design" science? | |
THE METHODS OF SCIENCE: HOW DOES SCIENCE TELL US ABOUT THE WORLD? | ||
7 |
Why trust science? Scientific Realism and Anti-realism |
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Mid-Semester Break |
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8 |
Are there really laws of nature? |
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9 |
The Historical Sciences: Prediction, Retrodiction and the Deep Past |
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10 |
Learning About the World Indirectly: Models and Modelling in Contemporary Science |
Essay Planning Exercise in Tutorials (plans due 16/10) |
SCIENCE & VALUES: THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIETY ON SCIENCE | ||
11 |
The Perpetuation of Convenient Myths: The Role of Sexuality in Scientific "Discovery" |
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12 |
Science is Big Business: Is Science Autonomous? |
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13 | No lectures or tutorials: Essay planning Meetings | Weekly blog and reflection due (02/11) |
Research essay due (13/11) |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Macquarie University provides a range of Student Support Services. Details of these services can be accessed at:
http://www.deanofstudents.mq.edu.au/
Or
http://www.campuslife.mq.edu.au/campuswellbeing
Another useful support service is provided by the Learning Skills unit which you can find at: http://www.mq.edu.au/learningskills/.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Extensions and special consideration |
Requests for extensions must be submitted in writing to the convenor at least 3 days prior to the final submission date accompanied by supporting documentation. Note, other study commitments will not be considered as an acceptable reason for requesting an extension. Email requests should include the unit code in the subject heading.
Where no extension has been granted, up to 5% of the total mark for that assessment may be deducted for each day the assignment is late, including weekends and public holidays.
http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/special_consideration/policy.html
Students applying for Special Consideration circumstances of three (3) consecutive days duration, within a study period, and/or prevent completion of a formal examination must submit an on-line application with the Faculty of Arts. For an application to be valid, it must include a completed Application for Special Consideration form and all supporting documentation.
The online Special Consideration application is found at: http://www.arts.mq.edu.au/current_students/undergraduate/admin_central/special_consideration.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.
This graduate capability is supported by: