VB007 Philosophy of Science I

Faculty of Informatics
Autumn 2009
Extent and Intensity
2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
prof. PhDr. Ing. Miloslav Dokulil, DrSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. Ing. Václav Přenosil, CSc.
Department of Machine Learning and Data Processing – Faculty of Informatics
Contact Person: prof. PhDr. Ing. Miloslav Dokulil, DrSc.
Timetable
Wed 10:00–11:50 B204
Prerequisites
The course presupposes some interest in general problems of science. It is recommended to follow by Philosophy of Science II.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 55 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/55, only registered: 0/55, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/55
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 21 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The course introduces into the basic problems of science as a specific activity of man. It traces the relationship of induction and deduction, the category of quantity and the principle of causality, and the criteria of verification within the range of the beginning of 17-th till the threshold of 20-th centuries. Simultaneously, it expresses astonishment over both the steadily faster development and quality, and unexpected applications of science.
Syllabus
  • Introduction: "Time boundaries" in general.
  • Birth of science as a modern phenomenon, its problems, methods and criteria. Presuppositions to a "paradigmatically" new perspective to the world and human tradition.
  • The geocentric problem as a confrontation of sensual absurdity with the necessity of adequately describing it and thus enabling its prediction. (From scholastic solutions to a definite break with the Aristotelian tradition.)
  • From sublunar steps to the first big jump into the supralunar world.
  • What, and how, is reality? Is its adequate clue empirism, or rationalism?
  • Encyclopedia as a product of Enlightenment.
  • Hume's skepsis over causality. Laws and probability.
  • Physiocratism as a projection of an "harmonic order", at the same time as a first model application in economics.
  • The positivist experiment in trying to change the world by the force of ideas. The initial variants of physicalism.
  • Problem of humanities at the end of 19-th century. (Is it possible to apply the natural-science criteria in humanities?)
  • "Rationally" fighting "fiction", or does the invisible exist?
  • Einstein's and Planck's shade.
  • An awkward look back and forward on the threshold of the third millennium.
  • The beginning of the philosophy of science.
Literature
  • Literature is being assigned during the lectures.
Teaching methods
Successive explanation based on the curriculum (slides, texts to be accessed electronically); the lesson is usually introduced by some updating (news from the world od science, anniversary).
Assessment methods
2 credits after both regularly attending the classes and submitting 1 essay.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, Autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2009, recent)
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