F3011 Physics, philosophy and thinking 1

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2022
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 1 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Jan Novotný, CSc. (lecturer)
RNDr. Blažena Švandová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Zdeněk Bochníček, Dr.
Department of Plasma Physics and Technology – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Jan Novotný, CSc.
Supplier department: Department of Plasma Physics and Technology – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Thu 16:00–17:50 F1 6/1014
Prerequisites
Interest in philosophical problems of sciences. Interest in philosophical background of social problems. Knowledge of basic results and methods of sciences (students in the first two years of their study or students without mathematical and physical background could have difficulties in understanding some more technical parts of lectures). General survey of history of philosophy, philosophical concepts and problems.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This lecture is devoted namely to the philosophical problems of sciences, but it also takes account of social problems of the day and its philosophical background.The lecture has no permanent and fixed structure, its content is changed in accordance with the interest of teachers and students. In the course of semester, it has usually one or two main themes (e.g. the problems of space time and cosmology, philosophy of language, problems with truth and with human freedom, causality and determinism, the philosophical foundations of logic with respect to the works of Kurt Gödel). Sometimes a book can serve as a source (e.g. books of Roger Penrose on the possibilities of physical understanding of functioning of human brain). Besides the main teachers also guests interested in philosophical problems of their field of research are asked for the lectures. Also the seminar works of the students are presented here. The lectures are usually followed by discussions. A small, but permanently increased library is at disposal to the participants of the lecture. At the end of this course students should be able to know that world is more complex than its picture given by special branches. They should be able to take critical standpoints to the broader problems of their specializations, understand its connections to the philosophical and social problems and defend them in oral and written form.
Learning outcomes
Students will
- be able to identify philosophical tasks in science research methods, to articulate philosophical positions.
- be able to apply their philosophical and scientific learning to important public issues and to articulate why philosophical understanding is valuable in such debates.
- will acquire competence in interpretation, and proof in logic and will understand how these processes aid in the evaluation of arguments.
- be able to formulate their own attitude towards the facts and ideas solved in the seminar
Syllabus
  • This lecture rested on permanent innovation and accommodation to the interests of participants. The following topics were examined recently:
  • Philosophical foundations of logic
  • Determinism and causality
  • Philosophy of Auguste Comte
  • Infinity and God
  • Longer-term perspective of the human race
  • Gödel proof of the necessary existence of God-like being
  • Returning points in the modern Czech history
Literature
  • NEFF, Vladimír. Filosofický slovník pro samouky, neboli Antigorgias. Vyd. 4., (V Mladé frontě 2. Praha: Mladá fronta, 2007, 453 s. ISBN 9788020415479. info
  • VOLTAIRE. Filosofický slovník, čili, Rozum podle abecedy. Translated by Emma Horká. Olomouc: Votobia, 1997, 277 s. ISBN 8072200615. info
  • BLECHA, Ivan. Filosofický slovník. 1. vyd. Olomouc: FIN, 1995, 479 s. ISBN 80-7182-014-8. info
  • BRUGGER, Walter. Filosofický slovník. Translated by Ladislav Benyovszky. Vyd. 1. Praha: Naše vojsko, 1994, 639 s. ISBN 802060409X. info
  • NEFF, Vladimír. Filosofický slovník pro samouky, neboli, Antigorgias. V Praze: Družstevní práce, 1948, 520 s. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, contributions of students, discussions with students
Assessment methods
Interest on the philosophical problems of natural sciences is supposed. Lectures are connected with discussions. Credit for the essay on the topics connected with the content of lectures.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2007 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Autumn 1999, Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2000, Autumn 2001, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2004, Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, spring 2012 - acreditation, Autumn 2012, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2022, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2022/F3011