PHIL209

This course is an introduction to the philosophy of science that explores both methods and myths of science.
We will pay special attention to how scientific thinking and institutions have shaped our understanding of race,
disability, and ‘fitness.’ Questions we will ask include: Can science ever describe the world objectively,
independent of human perspectives? What are current social and scientific understandings of race and of
disability? How is the eugenics of the not-so-distant past related to the current treatment of certain groups?
How do scientific methods and myths shape our thinking about contemporary technologies for environmental
and human enhancement? We will learn through conversation, reading, and writing.