F4012 Physics, philosophy and thinking 2

Faculty of Science
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 1 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Jan Novotný, CSc. (lecturer)
RNDr. Michal Černý, Ph.D. (lecturer)
RNDr. Blažena Švandová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Jan Novotný, CSc.
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
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
Upon completion of the course of instruction, the student will be able to explain models of explanation in the history of science.
Students will acquire and develop:
the ability to express philosophical ideas and arguments both orally and in writing
the analytical and critical thinking skills
the ability to approach ideas with an open mind
and other transferable skills: working to deadlines; using of library resources (incl. electronic resources)
Syllabus
  • The programme is permanently complemented and modified. It was not yet determined in detail for the spring 2009. We prepare lectures on following topics:
  • The influence of the science on the common life. The case of Goedel.
  • Ancient and modern cosmology
  • Life and work of Galileo Galilei
  • Ethical problems of Science and other up to date subjects
Literature
    recommended literature
  • NOVOTNÝ, Jan. Zákon a příběh, mají si co říci? (Principle and story - are they to mutually communicate?). In O tvořivosti ve vědě, politice a umění. Brno: Masarykova univerzita Brno, 1993, p. 119-127. ISBN 80-85834-00-6. info
    not specified
  • NEFF, Vladimír. Filosofický slovník pro samouky, neboli Antigorgias. Vyd. 4., (V Mladé frontě 2. Praha: Mladá fronta, 2007, 453 s. ISBN 9788020415479. info
  • HORYNA, Břetislav. Filosofický slovník. Olomouc: Olomouc, 1998. ISBN 80-7182-064-4. info
  • VOLTAIRE. Filosofický slovník, čili, Rozum podle abecedy. Translated by Emma Horká. Olomouc: Votobia, 1997, 277 s. ISBN 8072200615. 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
General interest on philosophy and history is supposed. Lectures are accompanied bu discussions. Credit for essay on the topics connected with the subject of the lectures
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Spring 2011 - only for the accreditation, Spring 2000, Spring 2001, Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Spring 2004, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, spring 2012 - acreditation, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2025/F4012