Assignment-

Please download copies of the following group of articles from the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy on the subjects of realism, anti-realism and scientific revolutions. From this point of the course onward, you are to read these articles and comment on them on an ongoing basis relating the content of these articles to the material in the Student Lecture Material and in the book by Kuhn. At least four separate page length comments should be submitted by each student during the semester. This Forum is worth 20% of the course grade. Note these essays are difficult. Read them carefully. I do not expect anyone to understand all of the details. I want you to have a basic grasp of them. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-realism/ http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-revolutions/ http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/thomas-kuhn/

Questions to address:

What is realism and anti-realism in the philosophy of science. Present detailed reasoning and arguments of at least four distinct views on whether we can properly say that there are scientific revolutions.

Present Kuhn's evidence for scientific revolutions and explain in detail how some others support his view and how some others oppose his view.

Present and summarize a current scientific topic of interest to you. Discuss whether realism, and anti-realism philosophical positions are relevant to that scientific topic.

Discuss whether the concept of scieintific revolutions is relevant to that scientific topic. .

Present and summarize a SECOND current scientific topic of interest to you. Discuss whether realism, and anti-realism philosophical positions are relevant to that scientific topic. Discuss whether the concept of scieintific revolutions is relevant to that SECOND scientific topic.