PLS2607/101/3/2022
Tutorial letter 101/3/2022
Philosophy of Science
PLS2607
Semesters 1 and 2
Department of Philosophy, Practical and
Systematic Theology
Discipline of Philosophy
This tutorial letter contains important information
about your module.
, CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 4
2 PURPOSE OF AND OUTCOMES FOR THE MODULE ........................................................................ 6
2.1 Purpose .............................................................................................................................................. 6
2.2 Outcomes ........................................................................................................................................... 6
3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION.................................................................................................... 6
4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS ........................................................................................... 7
4.1 Lecturer .............................................................................................................................................. 7
4.2 Contact details of the Discipline of Philosophy .................................................................................... 7
4.3 University............................................................................................................................................ 7
5 RESOURCES........................................................................................................................................ 8
5.1 Prescribed books ................................................................................................................................ 8
5.2 Recommended books ......................................................................................................................... 8
5.3 Electronic Reserves (e-Reserves) ...................................................................................................... 8
5.4 Library services and resources information......................................................................................... 9
6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MODULE ........................................................................ 9
6.1 Study @ Unisa: .................................................................................................................................. 9
6.2 First-Year Experience Programme @ Unisa ..................................................................................... 10
7 STUDY PLAN ..................................................................................................................................... 10
8 ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................................................... 25
8.1 Assessment criteria .......................................................................................................................... 25
8.2 Assessment plan .............................................................................................................................. 29
8.3 Assignment due dates ...................................................................................................................... 29
8.4 Submission of assignments .............................................................................................................. 29
8.5 The assignment ................................................................................................................................ 30
8.6 The examination ............................................................................................................................... 30
8.6.1 Format of the examination ............................................................................................................. 30
8.6.2 Scope of the examination .............................................................................................................. 30
9 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY ................................................................................................................. 30
9.1 Plagiarism......................................................................................................................................... 30
9.2 Cheating ........................................................................................................................................... 31
9.3 More information about plagiarism can be downloaded on the link below ......................................... 31
10 STUDENT WITH DISABILITY ........................................................................................................... 31
11 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ............................................................................................... 31
2
, PLS2607/101/3/2022
12 IN CLOSING ..................................................................................................................................... 32
ADDENDUM: REFERENCING FOR ASSIGNMENTS AND OTHER RESEARCH WORKS .................. 33
Introduction: ........................................................................................................................................... 33
What is Plagiarism? ................................................................................................................................ 33
How do I reference in text? ..................................................................................................................... 33
If you make use of an article from a written source: ................................................................................ 33
If you are using an article from a website:............................................................................................... 34
If you make use of more than one reference in your text from the same page, consecutively: ................ 35
How do I develop a List of Sources/Bibliography: ................................................................................... 35
Books with ONE author: ......................................................................................................................... 36
Books with TWO authors: ....................................................................................................................... 36
Books with MORE THAN TWO authors: ................................................................................................. 36
Books with ONE editor: .......................................................................................................................... 36
Books with TWO editors: ........................................................................................................................ 37
Books with MORE THAN TWO editors: .................................................................................................. 37
Composite works: ................................................................................................................................... 37
Unpublished works: ................................................................................................................................ 38
Sources retrieved from the Internet: ....................................................................................................... 38
Journal/Periodical Articles: ..................................................................................................................... 38
3
, Dear student,
1 INTRODUCTION
I am glad to welcome you to the Discipline of Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, Practical and
Systematic Theology, and specifically, to the study of this blended module, PLS2607: Philosophy of
Science. A blended module utilises both online and paper-based resources for teaching and learning.
We hope that you will enjoy the content, but more than that, that it will challenge your understanding of
science as you are stretched into Philosophical discourse.
PLS2607: Philosophy of Science is a demanding module, but it will enrich your life. Science is part of life,
and so, too, should reflection upon the phenomenon and practice of science, which is what we will
attempt to do in this module.
This tutorial letter sets out your programme of study for the semester (Semester 1 and Semester 2,
2022). It is a valuable document providing important information for planning your studies effectively.
You should read through this tutorial letter before doing anything else, familiarising yourself with the
module outline, the outcomes of the module, how the module is assessed, as well as other technical
issues.
The following additional tutorial matter is also available for download on myUnisa:
• Tutorial Letter 301 (WYSALLB) and
• Study guide for PLS2607 (Philosophy of Science).
To cope with the module content, proper planning is essential for successful completion of the module
Philosophy of Science. The syllabus is divided into a number of topics, each with a central theme. While
we do provide you with a study programme, you may find it more useful to create your own study
programme better suited to your unique situation. Either way, the use of a study programme is essential
and is to be encouraged.
A gentle reminder, however, organise your study programme in such a way that you have enough time
to prepare for the take home examination.
As with all modules offered by the Discipline of Philosophy at undergraduate level, Philosophy of
Science has been semesterised, and so the following apply:
• Study periods for Semester 1, 2022 begin with reception of your study material following registration,
and conclude with examinations in May/June 2022, while Semester 2, 2022 is examined in
October/November 2022.
4
Tutorial letter 101/3/2022
Philosophy of Science
PLS2607
Semesters 1 and 2
Department of Philosophy, Practical and
Systematic Theology
Discipline of Philosophy
This tutorial letter contains important information
about your module.
, CONTENTS
Page
1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 4
2 PURPOSE OF AND OUTCOMES FOR THE MODULE ........................................................................ 6
2.1 Purpose .............................................................................................................................................. 6
2.2 Outcomes ........................................................................................................................................... 6
3 CURRICULUM TRANSFORMATION.................................................................................................... 6
4 LECTURER(S) AND CONTACT DETAILS ........................................................................................... 7
4.1 Lecturer .............................................................................................................................................. 7
4.2 Contact details of the Discipline of Philosophy .................................................................................... 7
4.3 University............................................................................................................................................ 7
5 RESOURCES........................................................................................................................................ 8
5.1 Prescribed books ................................................................................................................................ 8
5.2 Recommended books ......................................................................................................................... 8
5.3 Electronic Reserves (e-Reserves) ...................................................................................................... 8
5.4 Library services and resources information......................................................................................... 9
6 STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE MODULE ........................................................................ 9
6.1 Study @ Unisa: .................................................................................................................................. 9
6.2 First-Year Experience Programme @ Unisa ..................................................................................... 10
7 STUDY PLAN ..................................................................................................................................... 10
8 ASSESSMENT .................................................................................................................................... 25
8.1 Assessment criteria .......................................................................................................................... 25
8.2 Assessment plan .............................................................................................................................. 29
8.3 Assignment due dates ...................................................................................................................... 29
8.4 Submission of assignments .............................................................................................................. 29
8.5 The assignment ................................................................................................................................ 30
8.6 The examination ............................................................................................................................... 30
8.6.1 Format of the examination ............................................................................................................. 30
8.6.2 Scope of the examination .............................................................................................................. 30
9 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY ................................................................................................................. 30
9.1 Plagiarism......................................................................................................................................... 30
9.2 Cheating ........................................................................................................................................... 31
9.3 More information about plagiarism can be downloaded on the link below ......................................... 31
10 STUDENT WITH DISABILITY ........................................................................................................... 31
11 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ............................................................................................... 31
2
, PLS2607/101/3/2022
12 IN CLOSING ..................................................................................................................................... 32
ADDENDUM: REFERENCING FOR ASSIGNMENTS AND OTHER RESEARCH WORKS .................. 33
Introduction: ........................................................................................................................................... 33
What is Plagiarism? ................................................................................................................................ 33
How do I reference in text? ..................................................................................................................... 33
If you make use of an article from a written source: ................................................................................ 33
If you are using an article from a website:............................................................................................... 34
If you make use of more than one reference in your text from the same page, consecutively: ................ 35
How do I develop a List of Sources/Bibliography: ................................................................................... 35
Books with ONE author: ......................................................................................................................... 36
Books with TWO authors: ....................................................................................................................... 36
Books with MORE THAN TWO authors: ................................................................................................. 36
Books with ONE editor: .......................................................................................................................... 36
Books with TWO editors: ........................................................................................................................ 37
Books with MORE THAN TWO editors: .................................................................................................. 37
Composite works: ................................................................................................................................... 37
Unpublished works: ................................................................................................................................ 38
Sources retrieved from the Internet: ....................................................................................................... 38
Journal/Periodical Articles: ..................................................................................................................... 38
3
, Dear student,
1 INTRODUCTION
I am glad to welcome you to the Discipline of Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, Practical and
Systematic Theology, and specifically, to the study of this blended module, PLS2607: Philosophy of
Science. A blended module utilises both online and paper-based resources for teaching and learning.
We hope that you will enjoy the content, but more than that, that it will challenge your understanding of
science as you are stretched into Philosophical discourse.
PLS2607: Philosophy of Science is a demanding module, but it will enrich your life. Science is part of life,
and so, too, should reflection upon the phenomenon and practice of science, which is what we will
attempt to do in this module.
This tutorial letter sets out your programme of study for the semester (Semester 1 and Semester 2,
2022). It is a valuable document providing important information for planning your studies effectively.
You should read through this tutorial letter before doing anything else, familiarising yourself with the
module outline, the outcomes of the module, how the module is assessed, as well as other technical
issues.
The following additional tutorial matter is also available for download on myUnisa:
• Tutorial Letter 301 (WYSALLB) and
• Study guide for PLS2607 (Philosophy of Science).
To cope with the module content, proper planning is essential for successful completion of the module
Philosophy of Science. The syllabus is divided into a number of topics, each with a central theme. While
we do provide you with a study programme, you may find it more useful to create your own study
programme better suited to your unique situation. Either way, the use of a study programme is essential
and is to be encouraged.
A gentle reminder, however, organise your study programme in such a way that you have enough time
to prepare for the take home examination.
As with all modules offered by the Discipline of Philosophy at undergraduate level, Philosophy of
Science has been semesterised, and so the following apply:
• Study periods for Semester 1, 2022 begin with reception of your study material following registration,
and conclude with examinations in May/June 2022, while Semester 2, 2022 is examined in
October/November 2022.
4
