Philosophy of Science in High School Textbooks?

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Charlemagne_II

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Should there be a course offered in high schools concerning the Philosophy of Science?

Such a course could concern itself with the basic principles of scientific research. Issues not normally covered in a biology or physics courses could be covered in this course; in particular things like the origin of the universe, the origin of life, the origins of science, and issues that have been controversial down through the centuries into modern times. The pros and cons of such issues would need to be laid out, with alternative explanations offered and evaluated as to whether they pass muster as rational positions. There could also be analysis of historical developments in science and their impact on the philosophers and theologians. Textbooks for such courses would have to be carefully edited so as not give the impression of being agenda driven. For example, if using opposing essays on a given controversy, the editors must not select the weakest argument for one side while selecting the strongest argument for the other side.

The reason I suggest this topic is that it seems to me much agenda driven teaching in science is tearing our culture apart at the seams. The public generally, and parents and children specifically, want to be assured that students are not being used as pawns for agenda driven creationism on the one hand, or atheistic scientism on the other.
 
I always wanted to learn Philosophy of any kind in High School - and I’m in it :D! I remember one year, as always, we had standardized testing where the question for the year was “write a letter to the principal of your school stating a change you would make to the school and why” or something like that. I said teach philosophy classes. I’m sure it gave the score-ers a good read after reading 1,000 other kids’ essays on why they should be allowed to chew gum or wear short shorts! 😉
 
I would go further and advocate the teaching of basic Philosophy in high schools. We often underestimate the extent to which teenagers can grasp and appreciate the practical significance and importance of beliefs about the purpose of life and the nature of reality. It is not for nothing that they tend to be both idealistic and revolutionary! 🙂
 
Pieman333272 said:
I always wanted to learn Philosophy of any kind in High School - and I’m in it :D! I remember one year, as always, we had standardized testing where the question for the year was “write a letter to the principal of your school stating a change you would make to the school and why” or something like that. I said teach philosophy classes. I’m sure it gave the score-ers a good read after reading 1,000 other kids’ essays on why they should be allowed to chew gum or wear short shorts! 😉
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Great minds think alike! Your post appeared while I was writing mine… 🙂
 
My science class covered some of this in junior high when we discussed the scientific method. The teacher was quite good and it was well done. But most people don’t remember much from grade 7!

My husband, a chemistry major, tells me they didn’t really cover this at university either, because they seemed to think it had been done before!

I think it should be covered to some extent in grade 10 or so, and that science majors should have to spend a half-year credit on it.
 
I would welcome such a class. No problem with it. 👍

Learn about Popper, Kuhn, Feyeraband, and their estimable contribtions to the History of Ideas.

Plus it would help teach Critical Thinking. Something this society knows NOTHING about. I agree with you, TonyRey.😛
 
Would the course I proposed be better at the 12th grade level, just as seniors are preparing to go off to college? Should it be an elective course or required? Should physics, chemistry, or biology be a pre-requisite for the course?
 
Charlemagne_II said:
Would the course I proposed be better at the 12th grade level, just as seniors are preparing to go off to college? Should it be an elective course or required? Should physics, chemistry, or biology be a pre-requisite for the course?
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  1. it should actually be taught earlier than 12th grade. I personally would have no problem having Freshmen doing the course.
  2. Definitely Required.
  3. Physics, Chemistry, etc, should not be pre-requisites.
 
I don’t think there should be prerequisites, because philosophy of science covers so much, some things not taught in school (i.e. pseudoscience and contradictions of science and history), it would take far too long to achieve the level if only taught in other classes. I think they should offer it as an elective starting in Sophomore, but maybe with an AP Level for Junior/Senior since its a huge topic. (I’m now talking about just PoS, not the other philosophies). It should start out very basic, like list of scientific fields, scientific method, basic concepts of philosophy, basic concepts of physics/biology/chemistry, and maybe basics of metaphysics and pseudoscience. It would work up in the “general science” category, maybe explaining things like a priori, nature in the philosophical sense, maybe scientific ideologies, etc.
 
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