Plain-language explanation.
The epistemology of science (philosophy of science) examines the foundations, methods, and implications of scientific knowledge. It asks: what distinguishes science from non-science? How do theories relate to evidence? Is science converging on truth or merely useful fiction?
Core concepts and standard treatment.
Core philosophy of science topics include the demarcation problem (Popper's falsificationism vs Kuhn's paradigms), the hypothetico-deductive method, underdetermination of theory by evidence (Duhem-Quine thesis), scientific realism vs anti-realism (van Fraassen's constructive empiricism), the problem of induction (Hume), and the structure of scientific revolutions (Kuhn's paradigm shifts and incommensurability).
Deeper theory, debates and edge cases.
Advanced philosophy of science covers Lakatos's research programmes (progressive vs degenerative), Feyerabend's methodological anarchism ('anything goes'), feminist philosophy of science (Longino — social epistemology of science), science and values (value-ladenness of observation), the replication crisis and its philosophical implications, and philosophy of the special sciences (biology, social science, neuroscience).
How it is applied in practice.
At the philosopher of science and science policy adviser level, practitioners contribute to British Journal for the Philosophy of Science and Philosophy of Science; engage with scientific consensus debates (climate, vaccines); advise research councils on research quality and reproducibility standards; apply philosophy of science to AI epistemology debates; and contribute to evidence synthesis methodology in systematic reviews and meta-analysis.