Universität Wien

070316 VO Theory of Science and History (2015W)

Logic of Science - Logic of History

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 7 - Geschichte

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