Understanding and Progress in the Social Sciences
Project Description
Recent philosophical discussions on scientific understanding and scientific progress focus on the context of the natural sciences. The role and nature of scientific understanding and its relation to scientific progress in the social sciences are insufficiently examined. This project aims to examine the role and nature of scientific understanding in the social sciences and shed light on the debate over scientific progress and scientific understanding.
Supervisor
SHAN, Yafeng
Quota
2
Course type
UROP1000
UROP1100
Applicant's Roles
Students are expected to read original scientific texts and secondary (philosophical and historical) literature and develop coherent arguments concerning the relation of scientific understanding to scientific progress in the development of the social sciences. As a result, students are expected to write a cohesive philosophical essay on the topic.
Applicant's Learning Objectives
Students will be able to have a familiarity of the recent philosophical debate on scientific understanding and scientific progress. They will also be able to have a sophisticated understanding of the history of the social sciences. Moreover, students will be able to critically and independently examine various philosophical views on scientific change and scientific practice.
Complexity of the project
Moderate