4.7
stars
173 ratings

Michael Weisberg

14,006 already enrolled

Offered By

Philosophy of Science

University of Pennsylvania

About this Course

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For the last four centuries, scientists have aimed to provide us with an understanding of the world around us. By all appearances, science has made substantial progress during this time. But is this progress real or illusory? And if it is real, how has this progress been made? This four-week course will consider these important questions. Specific topics will include how scientists generate knowledge through observations, experiments, and simulations; scientific objectivity and failures of scientific objectivity; the self-correcting nature of the scientific community; the positive and negative influences that values can have on science; the relationship between science and religion; and the role of the public in guiding the scientific enterprise.

Flexible deadlines

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

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Intermediate Level

Approx. 12 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Intermediate Level

Approx. 12 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: French, Portuguese (European), Portuguese (Brazilian), Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.8/5 (59 Ratings)

Michael Weisberg

Professor and Chair

Department of Philosophy

14,006 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating97%(1,032 ratings)

Week

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Introduction and Core Examples

3 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 38 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Week

Week 2

3 hours to complete

Scientific Methods

3 hours to complete

11 videos (Total 49 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

11 videos

2.1 – Intro to Scientific Empiricism4m

2.2 – A Grounding in Observation2m

2.3a – Straight Observation2m

2.3b – Observation with Telescopes4m

2.3c – Practicing to Observe1m

2.3d – Making Observation More Efficient2m

2.3e – Mill’s Methods3m

2.4a – Isolating and Creating Phenomena4m

2.4b – The Logic of Experiments7m

2.5 – Simulations: Empirical and Reliable?10m

2.6 – Reliable Detection4m

1 reading

Week 2 Readings1h

1 practice exercise

Week 2 Quiz30m

Week

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Scientific Objectivity

3 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 75 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Values in Science

3 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 23 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes

Reviews

4.7

68 reviews

5 stars
79.42%
4 stars
13.14%
3 stars
3.42%
2 stars
1.14%
1 star
2.85%

TOP REVIEWS FROM PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

by EAMay 3, 2020

Although this was first first course done with this system I felt it was done extremely well. Interaction with other students was made simple.

by JSFeb 26, 2020

This course opened me up to all sorts of perspectives and ideas that I never thought about. I was unaware of the field of the philosophy of science. I really appreciated the exposure!

by EGMar 4, 2020

A great introduction to the basis and the actual practice of science.

by MMJun 23, 2020

Great experience! The course enlightened my approach in the way I think about science.

View all reviews

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Is financial aid available?
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Philosophy of Science

Philosophy of Science

About this Course