This course introduces students to theories of knowledge, with an emphasis on the developing field of social epistemology. Throughout the course we will assess the strengths and weaknesses of different arguments and theoretical frameworks.

The successes of science in the modern world are ubiquitous, and science is clearly important for understanding that world and our place in it. But what exactly makes one form of intellectual activity or social practice scientific? Such questions will be raised and considered in varying degrees of detail.