Explanation and Theory Change

September 1 version

PHIL 858Z

Seminar in Explanation and Theory Change

Fall, 1998

Lindley Darden

Goal: The course is a general seminar on the topic of explanation and theory change in science. There are two competing analyses of explanation: Salmon's causal-mechanical view and Kitcher's unification view. Kitcher has a view of scientific change, called "explanatory extension." No comparable analysis of scientific change exists when science is viewed as providing mechanisms. So, one goal of the seminar is to discuss what such an analysis of mechanism change would entail, perhaps even begin to provide such an analysis. Along the way, other topics will include the nature of scientific laws, functional explanation, historical (narrative) explanation, causality, and other models and views of scientific change.

Useful details: Instructor: Lindley Darden, Professor of Philosophy. Office: 1107C Skinner. Mailbox: Philosophy Department, 1125 Skinner; Phone: 405-5699. Office hours: 2-3 Tuesdays and by appointment. Email: darden@carnap.umd.edu

Disabilities: If a student has a documented disability and wishes to discuss academic accommodations with the instructor, please contact her as soon as possible.

Honesty: Honesty on the part of students is presumed. Students who have difficulty writing good English may get help with grammar and the organization of their writing at the Writing Center (Room 0125, Tailiafero Hall), but they may not get unacknowledged help with the content of their work. Learn exactly what plagiarism is and avoid it at all costs. It is assumed that the student is familiar with the University of Maryland Student Guide to Academic Integrity.

Class listserv: There is a listserv list for the class to exchange information by email. If you do not have an email account, get a wam (Workstations at Maryland) account at the AITS Help Desk (CSS 1400); take photo identification and proof of registration. To subscribe to the class list, from your own email account where you wish to receive messages, send a message to listserv@umdd.umd.edu Leave the subject blank. In the body of the message type: subscribe helix your first name your last name, e.g., subscribe helix Carl Hempel Send message. In order to send messages to all subscribers, send to helix@umdd.umd.edu NOTE THE TWO DIFFERENT ADDRESSES FOR SUBSCRIBING AND FOR SENDING MESSAGES. This account is only to be used for class material and discussions; do not send other items to this list

Requirements:

(1) Short writing assignment; details provided in class.

(2) Each student will be "up" for at least two of the early classes, which entails (i) being even more prepared than usual on the readings and (ii) preparing a brief summary of material and questions for class discussion, which are to be posted to the class list no later than the Friday before the Tuesday class and which are also to be typed onto no more than one page, copied, and distributed in class. Of course, all students should be prepared to discuss all the required reading, be prepared to answer the questions, and raise other pertinent questions at every class.

(3) Prepare a thesis statement and bibliography for a paper on a topic related to the topics in the course and get approval from the instructor. Prepare a written version of a class presentation on the topic and enter the competition.* The presentation should be timed for 20 minutes and may include pictures for transparency overheads. Write a final paper on the topic, which will be longer and more detailed than the class presentation. Choose a journal in the field, e.g., Philosophy of Science, ISIS, Studies in the History and Philosophy of Science, Biology & Philosophy, Journal of Philosophy. Get a copy of the journal's instructions to authors and use that style, length, etc. in your paper. State in your paper on the title page for what journal you are writing. The paper will go through two drafts.

*Class presentation competition: In order to ensure good quality class presentations by students, there will be a competition for time slots. All registered students must enter the competition. Auditors may enter if they wish but they will have lower priority. The instructor will choose the best proposals to be presented in class. The student’s prospects for getting an A in the seminar will be boosted by giving a successful presentation.

Stages for presentation competition and paper:

Dates: (a) During September make an appointment with the instructor to discuss the topic of your presentation and paper. (b) On October 6 turn in a typed statement as to how you will satisfy (3) above. (c) *October 28: Class competition: turn in an approximately five page lecture on your paper (and overheads) with a reading time of 20 minutes. (d) November 17: Turn in a complete draft of your final paper for comments from the instructor; include a cassette tape if you would like taped comments; this should be your very best effort to produce a paper on the chosen topic. (e) December 8: Turn in final paper; those who do not turn in a final paper on that date will receive a take-home final examination. No late papers will be accepted. (f) December 15: If you have been given the take-home final, then turn it in no later than 5:00 PM. The grade for the final examination will decrease by a part of a letter grade for each 24 hour period that it is late. No exam will be accepted after December 17 at noon. Failure to turn in either a paper or a final examination will result in a failing grade for the course. All written material must be typed, double-spaced, with adequate margins for comments, carefully spell-checked and written with all the good writing skills you have. Keep a hard copy of anything turned in. Be prepared to produce an additional hard copy if asked. Make frequent backups of computer files and be sure that printing will work before the last minute; computer failures are not an acceptable excuse for lateness.

Grading: The short writing assignment and class participation (questions, discussions, possible presentation) throughout the seminar will count one-fourth of the final grade; the paper or exam will count three-fourths of the final grade; the grade for the paper will be an average of the grades for the first draft and final draft.

Books
Required

Darden, Lindley (1991), Theory Change in Science: Strategies from Mendelian Genetics. New York: Oxford University Press.

Kitcher, Philip (1995), The Advancement of Science: Science without Legend, Objectivity without Illusions. Reprint Edition. New York: Oxford University Press.

Schaffner, Kenneth (1993), Discovery and Explanation in Biology and Medicine. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Recommended

Salmon, Wesley (1990), Four Decades of Scientific Explanation. Minneapolis: University of Minneapolis Press. (Reprint of article in Salmon and Kitcher (eds.) 1989; some copies available to be checked out from instructor.)

Salmon, Wesley (1998), Causality and Explanation. New York: Oxford University Press.

Topics:

Sept. 1: Introduction; issues in explanation and theory change; analysis of mechanisms;

Required: none