LFILO2602: Philosophy of Science (Advanced Studies)

Main Themes

Each year, three central themes are addressed concerning the dialogue between natural sciences and philosophical questions.

Content

This course will take the form of an advanced survey of philosophy of science, designed to allow the student to pursue further high-level study or prepare a master’s mémoire on specific topics. We will start with a brief historical overview of the philosophy of science, then consider a number of problems in philosophy of science, such as the debate over scientific explanation, the dispute between scientific realists and anti-realists, and questions about the relationship between science and ethics.

Other Information

This course alternates every year between being taught in French and in English. For Q2, 2026–27, it will be taught in English.

For both versions, the course requires a significant knowledge of English; we will be reading sources from the philosophy of science that are often unavailable in translation. Students are always free to ask questions and discuss the course material with me in either language, and all course assignments may be written in either language. (When taught in English, this course is officially designated as “French-Friendly.”)

Required Readings

All of the readings will be posted electronically on the course schedule page. The reading for each day of the course is a hyperlink that takes you to the relevant PDF, after entering a password. This password will be distributed via e-mail before the start of the course and in the first class session.

We will read the entirety of Kuhn’s Structure of Scientific Revolutions. I will post a digital copy for you to use if you want, but I do think it’s worth owning your own. It is, of course, available in French translation as well, and you are welcome to read it in French.

Assignments and Grading

• Final Paper (60%): The primary output from this course will be a single seminar paper. You are free to write this paper in English or in French, though if you write in French I will not be able to provide commentary on the style or quality of your academic writing.

  We will construct this paper in stages, beginning with a short outline due around the middle of the quadrimester (10%), followed by a draft which will be the subject of a peer-review with your colleagues in the class (15% for the peer-review report) and a final version at the end of the semester (35%). The hope is to produce high-quality papers, suitable for submission to a graduate journal, a conference, or as writing samples for your entrance into a doctoral program, should you be inclined to do so.

  Some paper topics will be discussed over the course of the semester, but it will ultimately be your responsibility to select a topic in line with your interests. Students who select a paper topic that they genuinely enjoy almost always earn higher grades. Spend time thinking (and talking to me!) about how to connect our material to your various philosophical interests.

  More information on the paper can be found on this page.

• Oral Presentation (40%): At the end of the course, you will be asked to present the topic of your final paper project (30%), as well as to provide commentary on the presentations of your fellow students (10%).

In the August session, the evaluation consists of a written exam (100%).