Teaching the Philosophy of Science with Non-Scientific Examples Essay

Teaching the Philosophy of Science with Non-Scientific ExamplesABSTRACT This essay explores the benefits of utilizing non-scientific examples and analogies in teaching philosophy of science courses, or ecumenic introductory courses. These examples can help resolve two basic difficulties faced by most instructors, oddly when teaching lower-level courses first, they can prompt students to take an active interest in the class material, since the examples will involve aspects of the culture well-known to the students second, these familiar, less-threatening examples will lessen the students joint anxieties and open them up to learning the material more easily. To demonstrate this strategy of constructing and employing non-scientific examples, a lengthy analogy between musical styles and Kuhns theory of scientific revolutions is developed. Without a doubt, one of the most difficult tasks in teaching undergraduate philosophy courses is motivating the students to take an active interest in the abstract and complex issues unremarkably presented. One obvious method of overcoming this dilemma is to provide numerous historical examples and analogies of the relevant philosophical problem, since concrete instances are frequently less complicated than general descriptions, articulate the main points more clearly, and have the added bonus of being more personal and relatable. Thus, if one were presenting, say, Imre Lakatos theory of scientific research programs, describing the conflict between the Ptolemaic and Copernican views would serve as an excellent backdrop for the introduction of Lakatos ideas. Nevertheless, if the students are unfamiliar and/or bored by the kinds of examples employed, the strategy will, of course,... ...eme be introduced in the study section? // (rock) Can the song last for more than three minutes?4) Techniques for answering questions (and standards of success) (class.) Yes, but as long as it doesnt undermine the recapitulation. // Yes, but don t tolerate much radio air play, or video exposure.5) Exemplars (successful previous application of theory) (class.) a sonata row movement by one of the acknowledged master, such as Haydn, Mozart, etc. // a hit song by one of the great rock bands, such as Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc.6) Incommensurability theme in classical sonata form is designed for upper limit development capacity, and is (usually) in either tonic or dominant key // theme in rock music is usually designed for maximum melodic capacity, must allow lyrics to be set to the theme, and may not strictly follow the tonic-dominant tonal scheme.