PHIL 203

Understanding Natural Science: Its Nature, Status, and Limits

An investigation of the nature of science (its structure, methods, and status), and its place in human life, by looking at the historical development of science, including its interactions with other human activities, especially religion. The course will encourage students to develop their own views on major issues regarding the nature of science and its appropriate relations to worldviews and faith. It will use history of science both to place these issues in context and to test rival pictures of what science is, how it works, and how is has been-and should be-related to Christian faith. Special emphasis will be given to the diverse ways these issues have been approached within the Reformed tradition. Students taking this course to fulfill the integrative studies requirement of the core must have the following prerequisites in addition to PHIL 153: two courses in the natural sciences

Units: 3.0