Unit information: History of Science in 2021/22

Unit name	History of Science
Unit code	PHILM0007
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Tho
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Philosophy
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This unit introduces students to the discipline of the history of science by exploring contemporary debates surrounding the epistemological status of historical disciplines, the proper object of historiography and new
methodologies in the field. In recent years, new research in the history of the philosophy of science as well as expanded fields in science and technology studies has led to a renewed look at what it means to do the history of science and how historical claims should be philosophically understood. This unit provides the opportunity for masters (and advanced students) to examine contemporary work surrounding new methods (sociological, cultural, experimental, data-driven) in the history of science and revisit the debates between historicism-realism, externalism-internalism, continuist-discontinuist, and others. Alongside philosophical evaluations of the claims of historians of science, a number of test cases, drawn from the 17th and 18th century, will be examined.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students should:

1. Have acquired specialized knowledge and advanced understanding of core issues and debates in the history of science.
2. Be able to construct and analyze sophisticated philosophical arguments and engage with other philosophers in constructive debate.
3. Be able to evaluate historical documents contextually.
4. Be able to do independent research.
5. Be able to communicate ideas clearly and effectively to an audience.

Teaching Information

Lectures, small group work, individual exercises, seminars and virtual learning environment.

Assessment Information

All assessment is summative: Digital collaborative presentation (20%) designed to testr ILOs 1-5 + One essay of 5,000 words (80%) designed to test ILOs 1-4

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHILM0007).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.