An introduction to the philosophy of science and technology 

This course introduces you to classic topics in the philosophy of science, including how we demarcate science from the potential threats of pseudoscience, scepticism, and mis- and dis-information. It addresses attempts to define the scientific method, the nature of evidence and the role of values in scientific practice. The course also addresses - from a philosophical perspective - the involvement of emerging technologies and the use of AI in knowledge production and the advancement of scientific discoveries.  

Course details

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Start Date
19 Jul 2026
Duration
5 Sessions over one week
End Date
25 Jul 2026
Application Deadline
28 Jun 2026
Location
International Summer Programme
Code
W25Am29

Tutors

Dr Milena Ivanova

Dr Milena Ivanova

Course Director and Senior Teaching Associate in Philosophy

Aims

This course aims to:

  • provide a critical overview of the state of current interdisciplinary research in the philosophy and history of science and technology 
  • develop the critical research skills and analytical abilities needed to identify and address challenges arising within science and technology today 
  • ensure that engagement with the ethical and societal challenges pertaining to science and technology are informed by diverse theoretical frameworks and methods

Course content

The programme will take you through central topics in the philosophy of science and technology. You will reflect on whether there are any distinctive characteristics of the quest for knowledge that we call 'science', a set of methods that are characteristic of science and perhaps even unique to it. You will examine what reasons we have to believe that our knowledge about the world is cumulative and progressive, whether science aims to discover truths about the world, and whether science undergoes dynamic upheavals or steadily accumulates knowledge. You will also ask whether science is and ought to be value free or driven by political and moral values and what scientific objectivity is. Last, you will explore how the lack of representation effects the design and deployment of emerging technologies and how we can conceptualise trade-offs between environmental and other interests when it comes to technology. 

What to expect on this course

During this course you will familiarise yourself with contemporary and classic debates in the philosophy of science and technology. You will be invited to reflect on different case studies from contemporary narratives surrounding scientific discovery, technological innovation and progress, work in groups to critically reflect on illustrative examples and blend different methods of analysis to address the core questions of the programme. 

Course sessions

  1. What is this thing called science?

     
  2. What is the goal of science?

     
  3. Values and objectivity 

     
  4. Technology and feminism 

     
  5. Technology and environmental interests 

Learning outcomes

As a result of the course, you will gain a greater understanding of the subject and you should be able to:

  • demonstrate an understanding of philosophical issues falling within 
    the programme
  • understand, and begin to construct, philosophical arguments
  • interpret portions of the primary texts covered and use secondary 
    literature productively 

Required reading

There is no required reading for this course. See Course materials for supplementary reading once registered.