Universität Wien

070236 VO Theory of Science and History (2015S)

Logic of Science - Logic of History

4.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 7 - Geschichte

Details

max. 999 participants
Language: English

Examination dates

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Monday 09.03. 11:30 - 13:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 16.03. 11:30 - 13:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 23.03. 11:30 - 13:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 13.04. 11:30 - 13:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 20.04. 11:30 - 13:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 27.04. 11:30 - 13:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 04.05. 11:30 - 13:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 11.05. 11:30 - 13:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 18.05. 11:30 - 13:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 01.06. 11:30 - 13:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 08.06. 11:30 - 13:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 15.06. 11:30 - 13:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 22.06. 11:30 - 13:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 Hauptgebäude, 2.Stock, Stiege 8)
  • Monday 29.06. 11:30 - 13:00 (ehem. Hörsaal 48 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

Examinations will take place at the meetings December 12th, 2014(Midtermtest) and January 30th, 2015 (Endtest) by one 90 minute invigilated examination paper. Examination papers contain about 6 questions, of which the candidates are required to answer three. Permission to replace the invigilated examination by assessed work will be granted only to students who follow this course satisfactorily to its conclusion. Special preparatory meetings for the midtermtest and the endtemtest will be offered as well.

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) | HPS (neu) M1.2

Last modified: Mo 07.09.2020 15:30