PHIL241
PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
Other titles (2)
- CANCELLED COURSE
- PHIL OF SCIENCE
- Department
- Philosophy
- Terms offered
- 21
- Data refreshed
- Sep 1, 2026
Description
Examines such questions as: What is a scientific explanation? Can induction be justified? What could justify the claim that one theory is better than another? Are there such things as objective facts? Do scientific theories disclose the ultimate constituents of the universe? What is the difference between science and pseudoscience?
Syllabi
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Offerings and forecast 2014–2024
1995 2024
| Year | Fall | Spring | Summer | Intersession |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2030 | 2030 Fall: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 9 fall terms since 2018. | 2030 Spring: 27% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 6 of 9 spring terms since 2018. Department course count falling about 6% per year. Department faculty is about 14% below its recent average. | 2030 Summer: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 9 summer terms since 2018. | 2030 Intersession: 8% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 6 intersession terms since 2020. |
| 2029 | 2029 Fall: 6% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 10 fall terms since 2017. | 2029 Spring: 30% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 7 of 10 spring terms since 2017. Department course count falling about 5% per year. Department faculty is about 14% below its recent average. | 2029 Summer: 6% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 10 summer terms since 2017. | 2029 Intersession: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 7 intersession terms since 2017. |
| 2028 | 2028 Fall: 5% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 11 fall terms since 2016. | 2028 Spring: 32% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 7 of 11 spring terms since 2016. Department course count falling about 4% per year. Department faculty is about 13% below its recent average. | 2028 Summer: 5% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 11 summer terms since 2016. | 2028 Intersession: 7% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 7 intersession terms since 2017. |
| 2027 | 2027 Fall: 5% chance, high confidence. Offered in 0 of 12 fall terms since 2015. | 2027 Spring: 34% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 8 of 12 spring terms since 2015. Department course count falling about 3% per year. Department faculty is about 13% below its recent average. | 2027 Summer: 5% chance, high confidence. Offered in 0 of 12 summer terms since 2015. | 2027 Intersession: 6% chance, medium confidence. Offered in 0 of 7 intersession terms since 2017. |
| 2024 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2023 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2022 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2021 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2020 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2019 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | No data |
| 2018 | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | No data |
| 2017 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | Not offered |
| 2016 | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | No data |
| 2015 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | No data |
| 2014 | Not offered | 1 section | Not offered | No data |
Forecast Under 15% 15–39% 40–69% 70–89% 90%+ Not enough history
Fall Spring Summer Intersession More sections Not offered No data
Meeting times
Recent first- Tue, Fri, 12:00 PM–1:15 PM Philosophy House PHSEM 20192011
- Mon, Thu, 1:25 PM–2:40 PM Philosophy House PHSEM 2012
- Tue, Fri, 2:50 PM–4:05 PM Philosophy House PHSEM 2009
- Tue, Thu, 9:00 AM–10:15 AM Philosophy House PHSEM 200820052004
- Mon, Wed, 12:00 PM–1:15 PM Philosophy House PHSEM 2006
- Mon, Wed, 11:00 AM–12:15 PM Philosophy House PHSEM 2003
- Mon, Wed, 2:25 PM–3:40 PM JC206 20001995
- Tue, Thu, 10:25 AM–11:40 AM Philosophy House PHSEM 1999
| Term | Professor | Type | Credits | Enrollment | CRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2024 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 7 of 18 enrolled | 30808 |
| Spring 2023 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 8 of 18 enrolled | 30808 |
| Spring 2022 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 11 of 18 enrolled | 30808 |
| Spring 2021 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 14 of 15 enrolled | 37167 |
| Spring 2020 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 7 of 15 enrolled | 37167 |
| Spring 2019 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 18 of 15 enrolled | 37167 |
| Spring 2017 | Naomi V. Fisher | Lecture | 1 | 13 of 29 enrolled | 35722 |
| Spring 2015 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 9 of 20 enrolled | 33125 |
| Spring 2014 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 12 of 20 enrolled | 33125 |
| Spring 2012 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 6 of 20 enrolled | 30204 |
| Spring 2011 | Peter Marton | Lecture | 1 | 11 of 20 enrolled | 38515 |
| Spring 2010 | Unlisted | Lecture | 1 | 0 of 0 enrolled | 36093 |
| Spring 2009 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 10 of 20 enrolled | 36093 |
| Spring 2008 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 6 of 20 enrolled | 36093 |
| Fall 2006 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 7 of 20 enrolled | 22255 |
| Fall 2005 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 9 of 20 enrolled | 22255 |
| Fall 2004 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 8 of 20 enrolled | 22255 |
| Spring 2003 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 19 of 20 enrolled | 37214 |
| Fall 2000 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 20 of 20 enrolled | 24821 |
| Spring 1999 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 17 of 99 enrolled | 33604 |
| Fall 1995 | Patrick G. Derr | Lecture | 1 | 12 of 999 enrolled | 20358 |