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Popper proposed falsificationism as a solution to the problem of
induction. What was that problem and how does falsificationism purport
to solve it? Is it a plausible solution?
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How can we distinguish
between Laws of Nature and accidental uniformities? Explain the
problem and critically assess some of the solutions that have been
offered.
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The D-N model clearly
has difficulty with statistical explanations and yet we do seem to
want to be able to say that there are such things. Wesley Salmon has
proposed to make the notion of Statistical Relevance central to the
idea of scientific explanation. Explain and critically assess this
response to the problems of the D-N model.
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The radical
underdetermination of theory by observations (suggested by the
Quine-Duhem and Poincare Theses) has been taken to undermine Realism
in science. Explain why this is the case and critically assess that
argument.
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Princess Elizabeth was
not convinced that Descartes had established the possibility of
interaction between the distinct substances of Mind and Body. Explain
briefly what the problem was, and explain and evaluate Descartes’s
responses to her criticism.
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Suppose you met a
creature from Mars. Could you ever be justified in claiming that they
were conscious? Could you ever be justified in attributing it
feelings, thoughts, beliefs, or desires? How, or why not?
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