070316 VO Theory of Science and History (2015W)
Logic of Science - Logic of History
Labels
Details
Language: English
Examination dates
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
Friday
09.10.
15:00 - 16:30
Hörsaal 50 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8
Friday
16.10.
15:00 - 16:30
Hörsaal 50 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8
Friday
23.10.
15:00 - 16:30
Hörsaal 50 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8
Friday
30.10.
15:00 - 16:30
Hörsaal 50 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8
Friday
06.11.
15:00 - 16:30
Hörsaal 50 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8
Friday
13.11.
15:00 - 16:30
Hörsaal 50 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8
Monday
16.11.
13:15 - 16:30
Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Friday
20.11.
15:00 - 16:30
Hörsaal 50 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8
Friday
27.11.
15:00 - 16:30
Hörsaal 50 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8
Friday
04.12.
15:00 - 16:30
Hörsaal 50 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8
Friday
11.12.
15:00 - 16:30
Hörsaal 50 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8
Monday
14.12.
13:15 - 14:45
Seminarraum 13 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Friday
18.12.
15:00 - 16:30
Hörsaal 50 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8
Friday
08.01.
15:00 - 16:30
Hörsaal 50 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8
Friday
15.01.
15:00 - 16:30
Hörsaal 50 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8
Friday
22.01.
15:00 - 16:30
Hörsaal 50 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8
Friday
29.01.
15:00 - 16:30
Hörsaal 50 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Diligent students will learn to make sense of and evaluate the historical background, achievements, main criticisms and later developments of those controversies which implicitly cover much ground in temporary discussions. Methods in the philosophy of science, types of explanations, problems of induction and demarcation, epistemological positions as solutions of the problems of induction and demarcation, performance and evaluation of scientific theories, theories of scientific progress, critical evaluation of different solutions of the problem of induction and the problem of demarcation; critical evaluation of different theories of scientific progress;types of explanations in history, historism and historicism, methodological individualism and methodological collectivism (inductivist essentialism), methodological essentialism vs. methodological nominalism, rational explanations of human actions (decision logic), situational analysis, interpretations vs. scientific theories, inductive processes and the importance of generalisations, observational basis, objectivity and values, novelty, complexity, inaccurate forecasts, social dynamics, historical laws, prophecy in history.
Assessment and permitted materials
Students are required to hand in a mid- and an end- term assignment in writing. Grades will be awarded after having discussed those assignments in individual meetings. Assignments will be distributed on November 27th, 2015 (midterm assignment) and on January 15th, 2016 (end term assignment). Mid- and end term assignments contain about 6 questions each, of which the candidates are required to answer 5 of each assignment.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
The aim of this course is to introduce students to the wide-ranging problems and controversies in the philosophy of science and in particular in the logic of history. Although the course is mainly analytical its general approach is historical as well, and tries to provide an understanding of how problems and tentative solutions have developed in that field.
Examination topics
Teaching consists in one unbroken 90-minute lecture. Students are required to contribute in a lively manner to discussions at all classes and to pass two tests, i.e. the midterm- and the endtest. There also exists the possibility of writing an assessed essay (4000 words) in substitution of the endtest.
Reading list
Principal Literature: selected sections from Karl R. Popper, The Logic of Scientific Discovery, Hutchinson, London 1959 (first English edition; later editions are published by Routledge); any edition can be read. selected chapters from Karl R. Popper, The Two Fundamental Problems of the Theory of Knowledge, Routledge, London 2011; Karl R. Popper, The Poverty of Historicism, Routledge Kegan & Paul, London 1957 (first English edition; later editions are published by Routledge) any edition can be read. David Miller, Critical Rationalism: A Restatement and Defence, Open Court, 1994, chaps 1,2,3. P. Gardiner (ed.), The Philosophy of History, Oxford UNiversity Press, Oxford 1974.
Association in the course directory
Alle MA Geschichte: Aufbaumodul Geschichtswissenschaftliches Denken und Arbeiten; Wissenschaftstheorie, Theorien in der Geschichtswissenschaft (4 ECTS) | MATILDA: Historical Methods and Theories (10 ECTS) | MA HPS neu: M1.2, M1.3, M3 | MA HPS alt: M 3 | MA Geschichte 2014: VO im PM4 (4 ECTS) |MA HPS: M1.2, M1.3, M3
Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:31