Assessment Tasks
Relevance is a crucial factor in any piece of work for assessment, and
relevance is determined by the question actually asked and the way you
have interpreted it, which should be made clear from the outset. For that
reason you should begin each piece of work by giving the full wording of
the question you are answering. For the essay, in your first paragraph you
should make it clear how you are planning to address the question that
was set.
A critical expository exercise is a short exercise consisting of two kinds
of questions. Four exposition questions (of around 150 words per
question) calling for exposition of particular arguments, or an explanation
of a philosopher’s position on some matter. And one critical evaluation
question (of around 200 words) calling for a critical evaluation of the
issues discussed in the expository questions. Total word length for the
critical expository exercises is 800 words. To be satisfactory, each answer
needs to be precisely focussed, and deal in detail with the relevant textual
material.
Assessment task 1 – Critical Expository Exercise 1
Details of task:
Answer all of the questions in the critical expository exercise below, be
sure to note the recommended word lengths. The critical evaluation
question is marked with an asterisk. Begin your responses with the full
wording of the question you are answering.
Galileo and the Copernican Revolution. Answer each of the following
questions:
1. From Osiander’s Foreword to De Revolutionibus, find at least two
arguments for instrumentalism. Support your answer with quotations.
(About 150 words.)
2. Using arguments and examples from Copernicus’ Preface to De
Revolutionibus, explain the difference between a simple theory, a complex
theory, and a coherent theory. Is a coherent theory necessarily simple?
(About 150 words.)
3. Describe an instance where Galileo believed a theory that appeared to
be contradicted by some observational evidence. Was he justified in doing
so (i.e. did he have good theoretical arguments or observational
evidence)? (About 150 words.)
4. According to Galileo what should we do when we encounter an
apparent conflict between our sensory experience and the truth of a
biblical passage? (About 150 words.)
5.* Do you think there are relationships between simplicity and realism?
Give a reason/argument for your answer. Do you think there are
relationships in science between complexity and instrumentalism? Give a
reason/argument for you answer. (About 200 words.)
