What is philosophy of science?

A brief introduction

1. What is the philosophy of science all about?* John Wilkins * All opinions given here are independent of anything my university might choose to think. Not valid in the state of California

2. What does PoS concern itself with? Evidence Theory Method Specific problems

3. Evidence Francis Bacon said that by gathering enough evidence we could come up with laws of nature [ induction ] Evidence depends to some degree on what you expect to be evidence [ theory-dependence of observation ] How evidence tells for or against a hypothesis [ model choice, confirmation of hypotheses, falsificationism ]

4. Theory A theory is an explanation of some phenomenon or other [ scientific explanation ] A theory is a representation of the way the world is [ models, the ontology of science ] A theory is a commitment to a worldview [ paradigms ] A theory is a well-confirmed hypothesis [ confirmation ]

5. Method Science has a method [ methodological monism ] Science has no single method [ methodological pluralism ] Science has no (or any) method you like [ methodological anarchism ] Special issues [ statistical theories, experimental design ]

6. Special issues Metascience [ pessimistic induction, social construction, logic ] Sociology of science [ SSSK, influence of politics, social sciences ] Disciplinary subspecialities [ philosophies of: history, biology, physics, sociology, cognitive science, chemistry, geology, astronomy, medicine, etc. ] Subsidiary issues [ influence of parascientific fields like astrology, homeopathy, alchemy, etc. ]

7. Special issues Realism/Antirealism : do we believe that things theories say exist actually do? Demarcation : Is there a way to tell between science and pseudoscience or nonscience? Pluralism/monism : Is there only one world or many? Reductionism/holism : Can we reduce one domain (e.g., psychological) to another (e.g., genetic) and should we? [ coherentism / foundationalism ]

8. How PoS proceeds Conceptual analysis Reconstructing historical sequences and events Analysing the social interactions of science Considering the consequences of science in the broader community