This course examines the philosophical foundations of scientific inquiry, combining historical perspectives with contemporary issues in scientific practice. Special attention is paid to the challenges of inductivism, the nature of scientific progress, and the boundaries between science and other forms of knowledge. The course investigates fundamental concepts including scientific method, explanation, evidence, and the interplay between science, values, and society.
Prerequisites
PHIL 1100 or equivalent, or 12 credits of undergraduate coursework.
Missing prerequisites?
Learn more about VCC's academic upgrading or English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, or discover which university transfer options are right for you.
What you will learn
- Scientific Knowledge and Method
- What counts as science?
- Inductivism and its challenges
- Scientific reasoning and explanation
- Theory testing and confirmation - Scientific Change and Progress
- Popper’s theory of falsification
- The structure of scientific revolutions
- Kuhn’s theory of rationality
- The role of evidence and experiment - Demarcation and Scientific Authority
- Science vs. pseudoscience
- The role of expertise
- Scientific consensus and disagreement
- Interdisciplinary boundaries - Scientific Realism and Anti-realism
- The no-miracles argument
- Constructive empiricism
- Models and idealization
- Laws of nature - Science and Society
- Values and ethics in science
- Feminist approaches to science
- Social dimensions of scientific practice
- Science communication and public trust - Current Challenges in Science
- Big data in scientific practice
- Climate science and uncertainty
- Science in the age of AI
- Ethical dilemmas today
- The future of scientific inquiry
How to register
This course is offered as part of a VCC program only.
Course schedules
Select your program to see the available course schedules.
Contact us
If you have any question, please email at advising@vcc.ca.
† This information is intended as a guideline only. Program and course details are subject to change with the approval of VCC's Board of Governors.