PHL X63L PHL 363L Topics in Philosophy of Science 3 Hours
3 Lecture Hours 0 Lab Hours
Three lecture hours or two lecture hours and one discussion hour a week for one semester. Additional hours may be required for some topics.
Pre/Corequisites: Varies with the topic.
Grading: Student Option
Repeatable for credit: May be repeated for credit when the topics vary.
Academic Level: Upper Division
Topic 1: The Philosophy of Biology. Philosophy 363L (Topic 1) and 363L (Topic: Philosophy of Biology) may not both be counted.
Topic 2: The Outer Limits of Reason. Examines fundamental questions that appear to transcend the capacities of reason such as semantic paradoxes, theseus' ship, vagueness, infinities, computational intractability, quantum mechanics, fine-tuning arguments, and why mathematics applies to the physical world. Philosophy 363L (Topic: Outer Limits of Reason) and 363L (Topic 2) may not both be counted. Three lecture hours a week for one semester.
Topic 3: Science and Metaphysics. Examine questions about the nature of reality informed by science and metaphysics, such as the nature of time, space, minds, meanings, identity, infinity, abstract vs concrete objects. Philosophy 363L (Topic: Science and Metaphysics) and 363L (Topic 3) may not both be counted. Additional prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 4: The Philosophy of Geometry. Philosophy 363L (Topic: Philosophy of Geometry) and 363L (Topic 4) may not both be counted. Additional prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 5: Biology and Society. Explore how biological theorizing has influenced and, in turn, been modulated by social ideology from the early twentieth century to the present day. Additional prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 6: Philosophy and Computation. Analyze fundamental results from the early theory of computation such as the unsolvability of the halting problem, uncomputability, computational complexity, and intractability. Question central notions such as 'implementation' of a program, what a program is, what an algorithm is, 'software' versus 'hardware' distinction, and other distinctions. Discuss issues surrounding the relation between computation, thought, and experience. Consider questions such as what artificial intelligence is, whether there is a relevant distinction between 'simulation' of a phenomenon such as intelligence versus the production of genuine intelligence, the ethics of AI, and the status of various 'virtual' entities, such as internet sites, the metaverse, and bitcoin. Philosophy 363L (Topic: Philosophy and Computation) and 363L (Topic 6) may not both be counted. Additional prerequisite: Upper-division standing.