Philosophy

Instructions

Hardcopy answers to the following questions are due in class Tuesday, 01-31. I do not mind students working on this problem set in groups--it is, in fact, encouraged--but your answer should be your own. Be sure that each answer is complete, well-expressed, clear, and precise. The value of each problem is given in parentheses after the question, although honors student scores will be suitably scaled as per the grading formula. If you have any question, puzzle, or require clarification, please do not hesitate to contact me (berkich@gmail.com; 3976, 825-1514). Alternatively, I've enabled comments for this page. No doubt any question you might have would be shared by others in the class. Feel free to post them here and I'll answer as best I'm able. Finally, the following maximums and minimums must be scrupulously observed:

• No less than 10pt font.
• No less than 1.5 line spacing.
• No less than 1 inch margins on all sides.
• No more than one-half page for a Short Essay answer.
• No more than one page for a Long Essay answer.

Note that these are maximums and minimums only. You may, for instance, write less than one page for a Long Essay or use greater than a 10pt font. Finally, these minimums and maximums do not apply, for instance, to flow graphs or other charts, which may be handwritten and attached as need be.

One last but very important note: It is not permitted to quote from the text, or to plagiarize from the text, or to plagiarize from anything, or even to revise a sentence from the text by replacing key phrases. The answers, in short, must be your own

1. The Standard View

In a long essay, explain 1) why Popper rejects confirmation as a demarcation criterion, 2) why Popper concludes that the truth of a theory cannot be established to some probability even given the evidence for it, and 3) what Popper means by falsification as a demarcation criterion. (25)

2. Kuhn's Response

In a long essay, explain Kuhn's argument that we can establish Astrology is a pseudoscience but we cannot use Popper's criteria to do so. By what criteria should we exclude Astrology as a science, according to Kuhn? Finally, briefly compare and contrast Kuhn's understanding of what a scientific theory is with Popper's understanding. (25)