Philosophy of Science

A survey of the major views on the nature and methods of science. Included will be a brief historical introduction to the philosophy of science in the 19th century, the development of logical positivism and recent criticisms of it, and proposed alternatives to the traditional view. The positions of Hempel, Carnap, Popper, Kuhn, Hanson, Toulmin, Hesse, Quine and Van Fraasen will be considered.