Admission requirements
Students in the BA programme Philosophy: first year has been successfully completed as well as the second-year course Wetenschapsfilosofie.
Prerequisites for students from other departments (including contractstudenten): first year BA has been successfully completed as well as the following course(s) in philosophy: Wetenschapsfilosofie (5012VWF) or an equivalent introductory course in philosophy of science.
This course has a limited number of places available for students from other departments.
Description
Understanding the philosophical framework of scientific inquiry is crucial, and a central aspect of this entails a grasp of fundamental metaphysical concepts and principles that underlie that framework. This advanced course will focus on specialized topics, including causation, laws of nature, reductionism and emergentism, realism and instrumentalism, and the metaphysics of spacetime. We will conclude the course by examining the nature of entity and object in physics, chemistry, and biology, focusing on the metaphysical tapestry of identity and individuality in quantum physics, molecular entities in chemistry, and genes, organisms, and species in biology. An historical approach to topics will be coupled with the contemporary challenge of “naturalized metaphysics” as a backdrop to the course.
This course will utilize Loux’s Metaphysics text in addition to several required articles.
BA students enrolled in this course will write a 15-20 page final paper, take part in daily discussions, and give a 10 minute presentation.
Course objectives
This advanced seminar course will provide students with a background in metaphysics of science, including both an historical and contemporary perspective.
Students who successfully complete the course will have a good understanding of:
the historical context of metaphysics of science and philosophy of science;
the role of causation, from the Humean tradition on, to present philosophy of science;
the relationship of causation to natural laws, and the metaphysical status of laws;
the challenge of “naturalized metaphysics,” especially as represented in Ross and Ladyman’s book, Everything Must Go;
the historical and current framework of the debate over the metaphysical status of spacetime, from Leibniz, Newton, and Kant through the present;
the historical and current framework of the nature of natural kinds in science;
the metaphysical status and structure of particulars in the various sciences, from quantum physics and physics through molecular entities in chemistry, to genes, organisms, and species in biology, with an historical and philosophical context alike.
Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
articulate specialized topics in metaphysics of science, from causation, natural laws, naturalism, and natural kinds to the status of spacetime and entities within it;
articulate the historical context of particular topics in metaphysics of science, while relating that historical context to enduring debates and questions in the area;
elaborate and defend a personal position regarding the nature of metaphysical discourse in philosophy of science, and their own position with regard to specific debates.
Timetable
See Collegeroosters Wijsbegeerte 2014-2015, BA Wijsbegeerte (BA Plus-traject or Standaardtraject), derde jaar.
See Timetables Philosophy 2014-2015 , Timetable Undergraduate Courses in English
Mode of instruction
- Seminar
Class attendance is required.
Course Load
Total course load (10 EC): 280 hours.
Attending lectures and seminars (14 weeks x 3 hrs.): 42 hours
Studying the compulsory literature (approximately 500 pages): 70 hours
Preparation of class presentation: 48 hours
Final paper (including reading / research): 120 hours
Assessment method
Participation (10%)
A 10 minute presentation (20%)
A 15-20 page final paper (70%)
One resit will be offered, consisting of the final paper. Any student who did not take the first examination cannot take the resit.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for updates, links, uploading slides, and the syllabus.
Reading list
Reference text:
- M. J. Loux, Metaphysics: A Contemporary Introduction, 3rd Ed., Routledge, 2006.
In addition, peer-reviewed, scholarly articles will be assigned. Full bibliographic details will be posted to Blackboard. In some cases, materials may be reserved at the library for temporary student use.
Registration
Please register for this course on uSis.
See Inschrijven voor cursussen en tentamens
See Registration for courses and examinations
Students are strongly advised to register in uSis through the activity number which can be found in the collegerooster in the column under the heading “Act.nr”.
Exchange students and Study Abroad students, please see the Study in Leiden website for information on how to apply.
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Registration Contractonderwijs
Registration Studeren à la carte: not applicable
Contact
Remarks
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