Prof. Christopher Eliot (Philosophy)
104F Heger Hall
What is science? What makes Astronomy and Astrology so different, considering that they draw on the same data? Are the differences between them the same as as the differences between Evolutionary Biology and Intelligent-Design Theory? Then, is Sociology scientific for the same reasons Physics is? Is Psychoanalysis a science? How has culture historically influenced science? Is good science value-free, and if so, are Medicine and Conservation Biology not scientific?
These are a few of the central questions in the interdisciplinary field called Philosophy of Science. Since the ancient origins of philosophy, philosophers have been interested in the nature and justification of knowledge. Philosophy of Science is a field with a history extending back to the origins of science as “natural philosophy.”
As science developed from the 16th century onward, scientists and philosophers began to analyze how scientific knowledge is justified, what distinguishes good science from bad science, and how scientific discoveries happen. Philosophers of Science still discuss these questions, examining how science depicts reality, trying to understand the nature of rationality and understanding, and considering the relationships between science and human society, culture, and values.
Hofstra’s Minor in Philosophy of Science is primarily designed for students majoring in a particular science, but is also appropriate for students in any major (other than Philosophy) wanting to study the nature of science, medicine, and technology. This minor enables students to develop broader views of their major fields, to appreciate the historical developments in science, and to improve at the critical evaluation of scientific knowledge and methods of inquiry.
The Minor provides valuable context for a career in health and medicine, science-teaching, policy, law, and other fields. It includes both courses emphasizing theoretical concepts and courses emphasizing practical analytical tools.
Students earn Minor credit by taking courses in both Philosophy and other departments. Philosophy courses include courses directly in Philosophy of Science, such as “Philosophy of Science,” “Philosophy of Biology,” and “Scientific Reasoning,” and courses in related areas like “Bioethics,” “Epistemology,” and “Technology and Human Values.” Selected courses covering science and medicine in departments like Economics, Journalism, Engineering, and African Studies also count towards the minor. Students may apply one Natural Science course towards the minor.
The minor consists of 18 semester hours of required and elective courses listed below, with at least six hours in residence. A course in reasoning or formal logic, PHI 154 for example, is recommended. A student minoring in philosophy of science must take a minimum of any two courses in the natural sciences. From those two or more natural science courses, 3 semester hours will count toward the minor as the Natural Sciences elective. No individual course may satisfy more than one category. Students should also be aware that some of the courses listed require prerequisites; check the individual course listings in the current edition of the Bulletin.
The current list of courses for the Minor is at this link, in the current Bulletin. Contact the adviser about further electives.
Contact the Minor adviser:
Prof. Christopher Eliot (Philosophy)
104F Heger Hall