For the last four centuries, scientists have aimed to provide us with an understanding of the world around us. By all appearances, science has made substantial progress during this time. But is this progress real or illusory? And if it is real, how has this progress been made? This four-week course will consider these important questions. Specific topics will include how scientists generate knowledge through observations, experiments, and simulations; scientific objectivity and failures of scientific objectivity; the self-correcting nature of the scientific community; the positive and negative influences that values can have on science; the relationship between science and religion; and the role of the public in guiding the scientific enterprise.
What's included
6 videos2 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt
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6 videos•Total 38 minutes
1.1 Science: Past and Present•6 minutes
1.2 – Example 1: Evolutionary Theory•11 minutes
1.3a – Example 2: Aging the Universe•6 minutes
1.3b – Example 3: Climate Change•6 minutes
1.3c – Example 4: A Theory of Mind•5 minutes
1.4 – Diverse Subjects, Common Methods•3 minutes
2 readings•Total 70 minutes
Introduction to the Course and your Instructor•10 minutes
Week 1 Readings•60 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Week 1 Quiz•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 30 minutes
Week 1•30 minutes
Scientific Methods
Module 2•3 hours to complete
Module details
What's included
11 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt
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11 videos•Total 49 minutes
2.1 – Intro to Scientific Empiricism•5 minutes
2.2 – A Grounding in Observation•2 minutes
2.3a – Straight Observation•3 minutes
2.3b – Observation with Telescopes•5 minutes
2.3c – Practicing to Observe•2 minutes
2.3d – Making Observation More Efficient•2 minutes
2.3e – Mill’s Methods•3 minutes
2.4a – Isolating and Creating Phenomena•4 minutes
2.4b – The Logic of Experiments•7 minutes
2.5 – Simulations: Empirical and Reliable?•11 minutes
2.6 – Reliable Detection•5 minutes
1 reading•Total 60 minutes
Week 2 Readings•60 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
Week 2 Quiz•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 30 minutes
Week 2•30 minutes
Scientific Objectivity
Module 3•3 hours to complete
Module details
What's included
6 videos1 reading1 assignment1 discussion prompt
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6 videos•Total 75 minutes
3.0 – The Power of Collective Knowledge•4 minutes
3.1 – Defining Scientific Objectivity•10 minutes
3.2 – Mechanisms of Scientific Objectivity•11 minutes
3.3 – Shedding Bias and Approaching Truth•14 minutes
3.4 – Failures of Objectivity•14 minutes
3.5 – Science, Pseudoscience and Uncertainty•22 minutes
The University of Pennsylvania (commonly referred to as Penn) is a private university, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. A member of the Ivy League, Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States, and considers itself to be the first university in the United States with both undergraduate and graduate studies.
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Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.