Here are some links to some course-related readings:
Early Modern Philosophers on Knowledge:
Rene Descartes, Discourse on Method
Jonathon Bennett's 'translations' of early modern texts
On Thomas Kuhn's Structure of Scientific Revolutions:
Audio discussion of Kuhn's work on NPR's 'Science Friday'
A synopsis by Professor Frank Pajares of Emory University
A detailed outline by Professor Pajares
not-too-bad summary from the Harvard Science Review
Steven Weinberg on Kuhn on Scientific Revolutions
A page of history of science links
Science Studies and the 'Science Wars':
Helen Longino on "Social Dimensions of Scientific Knowledge"
A page devoted to the so-called 'science wars'
A page indexing a number of good articles on science, feminism, postmodernism etc.
links to several articles by 'social epistemology' maven Steve Fuller on 'Science Studies'
Steve Fuller's review of Sokal and Bricmont's Intellectual Impostures
On Feminist Epistemology and 'Women's Ways of Knowing':
Patricia Hill Collins, "Toward an Afrocentric Feminist Epistemology"
Elizabeth Anderson on Feminist Epistemology
A midwife talks about women's ways of knowing vs. masculine, technocratic knowledge
On Multiculturalism and African Ways of Knowing:
Abdul Aziz Said on Other Ways of Knowing as Tools for Peace
Bert Hamminga: Epistemology From An African Point of View
Alvin Goldman on Social Epistemology and Multicultural Education
John Searle on Higher Education and Knowledge
Media and propaganda
Noam Chomsky: What Makes Mainstream Media Mainstream
Michael Massing: Now They Tell Us
Postmodernism:
Mary Klages of the U. of Colorado on Postmodernism (a reasonably clear and concise overview)
A longer and more thorough account by William Glassie of Temple U.
an excerpt from "Signature, Event Context" by Jacques Derrida (the famous article discussed by Potter in Chapter 3)
An interview with Noretta Koertga, editor of A House Built on Sand: Exposing Postmodernist Myths About Science.
A critique of postmodernism by Daniel Dennett
A page indexing a number of good articles on science, feminism, postmodernism etc.
Richard Rorty and Relativism:
Richard Rorty: "The Decline of Redemptive Truth"
Richard Rorty: "A Pragmatist View of Contemporary Analytic Philosophy"
Richard Rorty: "Introduction" to Consequences of Pragmatism
Richard Rorty on Feminism and Pragmatism
An excerpt from a book on Rorty and Pragmatism (in which Rorty responds to seven critics, including Susan Haack)
An article about Rorty from The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
An article by Clinton Collins of the U. of Kentucky on Rorty on Truth (includes a 'postmodern' interpretation of the Anita Hill/ Clarence Thomas controversy)
A radio show featuring Rorty and MIT philosopher Daniel Dennett debating science and truth
Simon Blackburn on Richard Rorty