PH2111 Methodology of Science

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2009
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Ivana Holzbachová, CSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Jan Zouhar, CSc.
Department of Philosophy – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 10:00–11:35 A11 stara
Prerequisites
PH_SoZ Compreh. Exam. in Phil. || PROGRAM(N-PH) || PROGRAM(N-HS) || PROGRAM(N-SS)
The knowledge of the history of philosophy.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 9 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
In the course we will study conception of scientific knowledge in the history of philosophy as well as in contemporary period. In addition to a brief overview of philosophical approaches to science from Antiquity until the 19th century, we will focus on the opinions on science in the 20th century, especially on historical school of philosophy of science.
Syllabus
  • 1. Emergence of philosophy of science, definition of science
  • 2. Conception of science in Antiquity
  • 3. Medieval conception of science; beginning of the criticism of Aristotelian model
  • 4. Science in Renaissance
  • 5. Early-modern conception of science: Descartes, Newton
  • 6. Positivistic conception of science
  • 7. Irrationalism, crisis of confidence in science and neopositivistic reactions to the crisis
  • 8. K. R. Popper
  • 9. Historical school of the development of science
  • 10. The debate about the status of social sciences
  • 11. Society, science, technology
  • 12. Theory, fact, reductionism
  • 13. Modern relativization of the notion of theory: philosophy and science
  • 14. Psychology, sociology and the ethics of science
Literature
  • Fajkus, B.: Současná filozofie a metodologie vědy. Praha 1997
  • Feyerabend, Paul K.: Rozprava proti metodě. Praha 2002. ss. 27-78
  • Floss, P.: Proměny vědění. Praha 1977
  • HOLZBACHOVÁ, Ivana. Filozofické a metodologické problémy vědy. Vydání 1. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 1996, 140 stran. ISBN 8021014709. info
  • POPPER, Karl Raimund. Bída historicismu. 1. vyd. Praha: ISE, 1994, 130 s. ISBN 80-85241-75-7. info
  • KUHN, Thomas S. Štruktúra vedeckých revolúcií. Translated by Ľubica Valentová. 1. vyd. Bratislava: Pravda, 1982, 285 s. info
Teaching methods
Lectures supplemented by papers related to the literature on selected problems of the topics..
Assessment methods
The course ends with a colloquium in form of oral exam.
Minimal requirements for exam:
Emergence of philosophy of science, definition of philosophy of science
Positivistic conception of science
Popper and criticism of positivism
Scientific revolution in T. S. Kuhn and P. Feyerabend
Relation between science and society
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2000, Autumn 2001, 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, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2009, recent)
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