040055 SE Philosophy and Economics (MA) (2019W)
Economic Theories - Truth and Precison
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from Mo 16.09.2019 09:00 to Mo 23.09.2019 12:00
- Registration is open from Th 26.09.2019 09:00 to Fr 27.09.2019 12:00
- Deregistration possible until Mo 14.10.2019 12:00
Details
max. 25 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- Wednesday 02.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
- Wednesday 09.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
- Wednesday 16.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
- Wednesday 23.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
- Wednesday 30.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
- Wednesday 06.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
- Wednesday 13.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
- Wednesday 20.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
- Wednesday 27.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
- Wednesday 04.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
- Wednesday 11.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
- Wednesday 08.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
- Wednesday 15.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
- Wednesday 22.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
- Wednesday 29.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Assessment and permitted materials
Efforts of students are evaluated on the basis of critical contributions to discussions, talks and seminar papers
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
Rewards and Requirements:
In order to conclude this seminar successfully students have to provide one 20 min talk and hand in a short seminar paper of about 15 to 20 pages; they also have to contribute in a lively manner to discussions at all classes. Talks and seminar papers are evaluated according to the clarity, precision, logical structure and completeness regarding the problems and arguments discussed.
In order to conclude this seminar successfully students have to provide one 20 min talk and hand in a short seminar paper of about 15 to 20 pages; they also have to contribute in a lively manner to discussions at all classes. Talks and seminar papers are evaluated according to the clarity, precision, logical structure and completeness regarding the problems and arguments discussed.
Examination topics
Subjects of examination:
Problems discussed in talks and seminar papers
Problems discussed in talks and seminar papers
Reading list
Principal Literature:
K.R. Popper, 'Three Views Concerning Human Knowledge', in: K.R. Popper, Conjectures and Refutations, Routledge and Kegan Paul, London 1985. (any edition will do; there exists a more recent one with Routledge)
additional literature will be provided in due course.
K.R. Popper, 'Three Views Concerning Human Knowledge', in: K.R. Popper, Conjectures and Refutations, Routledge and Kegan Paul, London 1985. (any edition will do; there exists a more recent one with Routledge)
additional literature will be provided in due course.
Association in the course directory
MA HPS: M1.1, M1.2., M1.3., M3, M4
Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:19
This seminar aims at discussing so called instrumentalist positions defended in economics, not only analytically but historically as well. Instrumentalist positions aim at solving the problems of induction and demarcation by substituting truth values such as ‘true’, false’ and ‘probable’ by pragmatic or aesthetic standards. Much emphasis will be placed on the problems regarding the idea of objective truth in terms of the correspondence theory of truth as a regulative idea of science and whether instrumentalist positions are the inevitable result of Hume’s negative skepticism. Particular consideration will be given to the claim that allegedly excessive use of
mathematical methods seem to privilege aesthetic and pragmatic standards like precision and simplicity and not objective truth as rational standards for (empirical) theories. Also: since theories explicating scientific progress are (logical) consequences of specific attempts to solve the problems of induction and demarcation and form selective theoretical points of view from which histories of (economic) theories are written, instrumentalist histories of economic ideas will be examined as well and contrasted with different approaches.
Aims
By discussing different epistemological and methodological views regarding human knowledge diligent students will learn to make sense of the theoretical problems and their historical background as well as to evaluate the achievements and main criticisms proposed in different debates.
Method:
Teaching consists in one unbroken 90-minute seminar. The language of instruction is English, though German is welcome as well, depending on the texts discussed. Students are required to prepare for every meeting on the basis of obligatory readings and propose questions to be discussed in plenum. Students also have to present one 20 min talk at one particular meeting based on obligatory and additional readings and contribute in a lively manner to discussions at all classes. In addition they have to write a short seminar paper (ca 15 to 20 pages) on problems not discussed in their talks. Talks and seminar papers can be in English as well as in German.