1. 1 PHIL 2130 Philosophy of the Sciences 1 st half by Wai-man Kwok Email: wmkwok@gmail.com Course Web-site http://philosophy.hku.hk/courses/200506/phil 2130/

2. 2 Short Paper Topics should be related to my three main topics. –Examples in a moment. –Approval for the topic required. Other requirements: –Typed but not hand-written –No. of words: 2000 – 2500 –Word count at the end.

3. 3 Marking Criteria: –Clarity –Reasoning –Originality –Quality! Submission deadline: –1 December (my last lecture: 1 November). –Submitted through email.

4. 4 Suggested references: –Grammatical or stylistic problems in English writing Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. (the absolute bible for all writers, some say)Elements of Style Grammar and Style Notes by Jack Lynch (a simplified, shorter and more modern approach)Grammar and Style Notes –Real ambition on writing a good philosophy paper! “ Writing a Philosophy Paper ”“ Writing a Philosophy Paper ” “ Checklist for Writing Philosophy Papers ”“ Checklist for Writing Philosophy Papers ”

5. 5 The Three Main Topics 1. Science & its pretenders –What are the criteria for choosing among rival hypotheses? Paper topic examples: –Is parapsychology a science? –Creationism vs Evolution – a Critical Analysis –Simplicity – its Status as a Criterion for Scientific Theories

6. 6 2. Realism vs. antirealism –Do unobservable theoretical entities like electrons really exist? Paper topic examples: –In Support of Realism –Half-realism & Half-antirealism –Realism vs. Antirealism – a Pseudo-dispute

7. 7 3. Newton vs. Leibniz on space –Does space have an absolute existence over and above the spatial relations among objects, or does it consist simply of the totality of such relations?

8. 8 Paper topic examples: –A Critical Examination of Newton ’ s Arguments –The Role of Time in the Dispute between Newton and Leibniz –Can Space Exist Alone? – Some Lessons from Modern Physics

9. 9 Your Views about the Course & Knowledge about the Topics Expectations Preferences Suggestions Pls be reasonable & realistic.

10. 10 Your knowledge and/or views about the three main topics: –1. Science & its pretenders What are the criteria for choosing among rival hypotheses? –2. Realism vs. antirealism Do unobservable theoretical entities like electrons really exist? –3. Newton vs. Leibniz on space Does space have an absolute existence over and above the spatial relations among objects, or does it consist simply of the totality of such relations?