Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Philosophy and Logic of Science
Course Code
DN_185
Branch of Science
Philosophy, Ethics and Religion
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Medicine; Pharmacy; Psychology
LQF
Level 8
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Anita Pipere
Structure Unit Manager
Dace Bandere
Structural Unit
Department of Doctoral Studies
Contacts
Riga, 16 Dzirciema Street, dn@rsu.lv, +371 67409133
About Study Course
Objective
The aim of the course is to acquaint doctoral students with the concepts and challenges of philosophy of science (e.g. science and pseudoscience, objectivity and subjectivity, etc.), to analyse trends in 20th century science by discussing the philosophy of science in the context of its paradigms and content aspects, and to enhance doctoral students’ understanding of the research subject matter and research methodology in the context of the philosophy of science.
Preliminary Knowledge
Knowledge in philosophy and logic study courses, information literacy.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.After completing the study course, students will be able to discuss issues of the philosophy of science. Describe the content aspects of philosophy of science, theories and paradigms; know the issue related to logic and drawing up conclusions of scientific research, define a research strategy from the point of view of philosophy of science in their own science sector. Use terminology of philosophy of science, know the latest literature.
Skills
1.Model the possibilities for integrating basic issues of philosophy of science and their special features into their own doctoral thesis. Able to evaluate the scientific publications read at the level of theories and paradigms pf philosophy of science. Critically analyse the views of modern scientists on the issues of philosophy of science.
Competences
1.Demonstrate the ability to analyse and synthesize the issues of philosophy of science, the skills to select and interpret the issues of philosophy of science relevant to the given field of science and the subject matter of their own doctoral thesis, the ability to interpret the manifestations of various scientific paradigms in the interview data obtained and publicly present and defend their interpretation using appropriate terminology.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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1.
Individual work |
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1) In connection with the class “Preparation for interviewing scientists on the issues of philosophy of science”
• Acquisition of theoretical principles of interviewing according to the materials offered in the e-environment
• Getting acquainted with the theoretical material placed in the e-environment of the study course
• Studies of additional material placed in the e-environment
2) In connection with the class “Presentation of the results of interviewing scientists on the issues of philosophy of science and discussion”
• Preparation and implementation of an interview with an outstanding scientist in the field of science represented by the doctoral student
• Summary, analysis and synthesis of interview results
• Creating a public presentation of the interview results
3) In connection with the interim examination: preparation of an essay.
The student's contribution to the improvement of the study process is the provision of meaningful feedback on the study course by filling out its evaluation questionnaire.
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Examination
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Title
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% from total grade
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Grade
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1.
Examination |
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Interim examination: a reflective essay on the subject matter of the doctoral student’s doctoral thesis and the research methodology in the context of philosophy of science (30%).
Assessment: According to a 10-point grading system
The essay will be assessed according to the following criteria:
1) Content criteria: detail of the content of the chapters of the essay, compliance with lecture materials and literature sources, diversity of literature sources and compliance with the topics of the essay chapters;
2) Structural criteria: logic of the essay chapters, sequence, compliance with the general requirements for the essay structure;
3) Formal criteria: compliance with the length of the essay, conformity to the requirements for the design, the accurateness of the essay style and language (scientific style and compliance with language requirements).
Presentation of the results of the interview with scientists on issues related to philosophy of science and participation in the discussion (70%).
Assessment: Pass / fail.
The assessment of the doctoral students’ group and the feedback to the presentation authors is taken into consideration when assessing the interview process and the presentation of the results.
Structure of the interview and its assessment: the interview process (5%), progress (5%) and reflection of the results of the interview in the presentation are assessed in relation to the three issues related to philosophy of science included in the interview and the supervision of doctoral students’ topics (90%). The structure of the presentation may be created in a free format with compulsory inclusion of these basic components of the presentation in their logical order.
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Introduction to philosophy of science.
Philosophy of science: basic issues.
Classification of science, scientific activity, personality of a scientist.
Science and pseudoscience.
Description
Annotation: Philosophy of science: basic issues. Definitions of philosophy of science, its functions and aims. Philosophical issues in science.
Classification of science, scientific activity, personality of a scientist. Definition of science and approaches to the classification of science sectors. Scientific activity and its role from the point of view of philosophy of science. Objectivity and subjectivity in science. Personality of a scientist.
Science and pseudoscience.
Literature: Allhoff, F. (Ed.).(2010). Philosophies of the sciences. A guide. Wiley-Blackwell.
Johansson, L.-G. (2020). Philosophy of science for scientists. Springer.
Rickles, D. (2020). What is philosophy of science? Polity Press.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP): https://plato.stanford.edu/
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Preparing for interviewing scientists on the issues of philosophy of science.
Description
Annotation: The lesson prepares doctoral students for interviewing scientists on the issues of philosophy of science.
Topics covered during the class: 1) Getting acquainted with the test assignment and steps for carrying it out
2) Brief introduction to interviewing and analysis of interview data
3) Insight into the specific nature of interviewing scientists
4) Splitting in pairs or working groups for conducting an interview and developing a presentation and choosing three problems of philosophy of science and logic for integration in the interview
5) Practical preparation for the development of interview questions
Literature: Allhoff, F. (Ed.).(2010). Philosophies of the sciences. A guide. Wiley-Blackwell.
Rickles, D. (2020). What is philosophy of science? Polity Press.
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Philosophy of science: theories and paradigms.
20th century theories of the development of science.
Philosophy of science: level of paradigms.
Description
Annotation: 20th century logical positivism of the theory of the development of science (Vienna circle), theory of falsification (K. Popper), normal science and scientific revolutions (Th. Kuhn), theory of research programmes (I. Lakatos), epistemological anarchism (P. Feyerabend).
Philosophy of science: level of paradigms. Modernism and the bridges of philosophy of science to postmodernism. Postmodernism. Metamodernism and its features in philosophy of science and science policy.
Literature: Johansson, L.-G. (2020). Philosophy of science for scientists (Springer Undergraduate Texts in Philosophy). Springer.
Ladyman, J. (2002). Understanding philosophy of science. Routledge.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP): http://plato.stanford.edu
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Ontology, epistemology, methodology and axiology of philosophy of science.
Description
Annotation: Description of ontology, epistemology, methodology and axiology as content aspects of philosophy. Ontology in philosophy of science. Epistemology in the philosophy of science. Methodology in philosophy of science. Axiology in the philosophy of science.
Literature: Psillos, S. & Curd, M. (Eds.) (2010). The Routledge companion to philosophy of science. London: Taylor & Francis.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP): http://plato.stanford.edu
The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (IEP): http://www.iep.utm.edu/
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Logic and philosophy of science: induction, deduction, abduction.
Description
Annotation: Drawing conclusions in science. Inductive and deductive arguments. Problems with induction. Problems of hypothetico-deductive approach. Causation and models of scientific explanations. Abduction as a form of everyday and scientific judgements.
Literature: Johansson, L.-G. (2020). Philosophy of science for scientists (Springer Undergraduate Texts in Philosophy). Springer.
Ladyman, J. (2002). Understanding philosophy of science. Routledge.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP): http://plato.stanford.edu
The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (IEP): http://www.iep.utm.edu/
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Philosophical understanding of research strategies in health and social sciences.
Description
Annotation: Modernism (positivism and postpositivism): the philosophical framework of quantitative strategy. Postmodernism (constructionism and critical ideological paradigm): the philosophical framework of the qualitative strategy. Metamodernism (interdisciplinary / transdisciplinary paradigm): the philosophical framework of the mixed research strategy
Literature: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP): http://plato.stanford.edu
The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (IEP): http://www.iep.utm.edu/
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Philosophical understanding of research strategies in health and social sciences.
Description
Annotation: Modernism (positivism and postpositivism): the philosophical framework of quantitative strategy. Postmodernism (constructionism and critical ideological paradigm): the philosophical framework of the qualitative strategy. Metamodernism (interdisciplinary / transdisciplinary paradigm): the philosophical framework of the mixed research strategy
Literature: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP): http://plato.stanford.edu
The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (IEP): http://www.iep.utm.edu/
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Class/Seminar
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
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Auditorium
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2
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Topics
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Presentation of the results of interviewing scientists on the issues of philosophy of science and discussion.
Description
Annotation: On the basis of an interview with scientists and an analysis of interview data, each pair /working group of doctoral students JOINTLY creates and publicly presents a report reflecting the interview process (5%), progress (5%) and the results of the interview in relation to the three issues of the philosophy of science and the supervision of doctoral students’ topics included in the interview (90%).
Topics covered during the class: 1) Presentation of a pair / work groups in person or remotely
2) Evaluation for the presentation of the group of doctoral students according to the specified criteria
3) Feedback from the group and the lecturer
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
16 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Test
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Allhoff, F. (Ed.). (2016). Philosophies of the sciences. A guide. Wiley-Blackwell.Suitable for English stream
2.
Johansson, L.-G. (2020). Philosophy of science for scientists (Springer Undergraduate Texts in Philosophy). Springer.Suitable for English stream
3.
Ladyman, J. (2021). Understanding philosophy of science. Routledge.Suitable for English stream
4.
Mārtinsone, K., & Pipere, A. (Red.) (2021). Zinātniskās darbības metodoloģija: starpdisciplināra perspektīva. RSU.
5.
Mārtinsone, K., Pipere, A., & Kamerāde, D. (Red.) (2016). Pētniecība: Teorija un prakse. Rīga: RaKa.
6.
Rickles, D. (2020). What is philosophy of science? Polity Press.Suitable for English stream
Additional Reading
1.
Godfrey-Smilth, P. (2003). Theory and reality: An introduction to the philosophy of science. The University of Chicago Press.Suitable for English stream
2.
Kilduff, M., Mehra, A., & Dunn, M. B. (2011). From blue sky research to problem solving: A philosophy of science theory of new knowledge production. The Academy of Management Review, 36, 297–317.Suitable for English stream
3.
Machamer, P., & Silberstein, M. (2002). The Blackwell guide to the philosophy of science. Blackwell Publishers.Suitable for English stream
4.
Psillos, S. & Curd, M. (Eds.) (2014). The Routledge companion to philosophy of science. London: Taylor & Francis.Suitable for English stream
5.
Vedins I. (2008). Zinātne un patiesība. Rīga: Avots.
6.
Wilson, E. O. (1998). Consilience: The unity of knowledge. Vintage.Suitable for English stream
Other Information Sources
1.
Lennox, J. G.. (2001). History and philosophy of science: a phylogenetic approach. História, Ciências, Saúde-Manguinhos, 8(3), 655-669.Suitable for English stream
2.
Pipere, A., & Lorenzi, F. (2021). The dialogical potential of transdisciplinary research: Challenges and benefits. World Futures.Suitable for English stream
3.
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP).Suitable for English stream
4.
The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy (IEP).Suitable for English stream