PhD course in Philosophy of Science (DUH602)


Course description for study year 2024-2025. Please note that changes may occur.

Facts

Course code

DUH602

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

7

Semester tution start

Spring

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Spring

Language of instruction

English

Offered by
Time table

View course schedule

Content

The course will give a broad orientation on central issues in the philosophy of science related to the social sciences and the humanities (‘the human sciences’).

The main topics are:

  • Objectivity and the role of values in the human sciences.
  • Feministic perspectives on science.
  • Social ontology and constructivism.
  • Scientific explanation.
  • Individualism versus holism.
  • Fundamental questions related to qualitative and quantitative methodology.

Learning outcome

Knowledge:

The student will gain knowledge of fundamental philosophical issues related to the social sciences and the humanities.

Skills

By the end of the course, the student will be able to:

- Facilitate critical reflection and argumentation upon presuppositions that may easily be taken for granted in their own research tradition, or in science as a whole.

- Relate discipline-specific topics to general reflections and concepts of philosophy of science

General competence

By the end of the course, the student will be able to demonstrate competence in analytical discussion and well-structured academic argumentation.

Required prerequisite knowledge

Students must be enrolled in a PhD program.

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Individual paper 1/1 Passed / Not Passed

• Evaluation will be based on one individual paper (4000 words (+/- 10%) on a self-chosen topic approved by the instructor.
• The paper must be written in English or in a Scandinavian language.
• The paper must be submitted within six weeks after the topic has been approved.

Coursework requirements

Active participation in lectures and seminarsActive participation in lectures and seminars
At least 75% attendance

Course teacher(s)

Study Program Director:

Hein Berdinesen

Course coordinator:

Ståle Gundersen

Course teacher:

Marianne Hafnor Bøe

Course teacher:

Ulrich Dettweiler

Course teacher:

Hein Berdinesen

Method of work

The course will be given in the form of five full-day lectures\seminars. A detailed timetable will be made available at the beginning of the course-semester

Active participation in lectures and seminars

Open for

PhD candidates enrolled in PhD programmes at the University of Stavanger and at cooperating research institutions may participate in the course.

Course assessment

There must be an early dialogue between the course supervisor, the student union representative and the students. The purpose is feedback from the students for changes and adjustments in the course for the current semester.In addition, a digital subject evaluation must be carried out at least every three years. Its purpose is to gather the students experiences with the course.

Literature

The syllabus can be found in Leganto