- Course code: PHD902
- Credits: 5
- Language: English
Study program affiliation:
Theory of Science PHD902
GENERAL INFORMATION
The course, together with PHD901, offers advanced training in the theory of science, highlighting both historical and contemporary perspectives, as well as critical conceptual and fundamental issues. It deals with different positions in the interdisciplinary field, including the issue of historicity, the relationship between rationality and emotions, practice theory, socio-material issues, and systematic, normative, and critical positions. The course includes the following topics:
- Different positions and models of understanding the study of the historical past
- The position of rational choice, the understanding of emotions as interwoven with rationality
- How different contemporary understandings of theology as a systematic enterprise are articulated and employed
- Empirical approach to normativity and how normativity is constituted in social and material practices
- Questions related to power, recognition, and marginalization in knowledge production, including decolonizing perspectives
MODES OF TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES
-- Lectures
- Seminars
- Mandatory presentations by the students
- Workshops
- Paper writing
The course is offered every second autumn semester- approximately 20 hours distributed over four days. Both PHD901 and PHD902 are mandatory in MF's PhD program. However, the order in which the courses are taken is arbitrary. The order in which the candidate takes the respective course has some implications for the course requirement; see more under "Course Requirements" below.
Study requirements
- Attend the course seminar (min. 75 %)
- Submit a draft (1000-1500 words) for a course paper two weeks before the first session based on your reading of the curriculum so far and, if relevant, it's potential for your dissertation
- Respond to the paper and questions of one fellow PhD student
- Either submit a draft for a course paper within three weeks after the course (1000-1500 words) or submit a final version (4000-5000 words) within three weeks after the course.
- Participate in the evaluation of the course if such evaluation is stipulated in the relevant term
Clarification:
If this is your first theory of Science course (either PHD901 or PHD902): Submit a short paper (1000-1500 words) three weeks before the course, revise it after the course, and resubmit it three weeks after the course (1000-1500 words)
If this is your second Theory of science course (PHD901 or PHD902): Submit a short paper (1000-1500 words) three weeks before the course, revise and extend it after the course, and submit a long paper (4000-5000 words) within three weeks after the course.
Final assessment/Exam
The course is graded ‘passed’/’not passed.’
Learning outcome
Knowledge
The candidate
- is at the forefront of knowledge within the field of historical and contemporary perspectives of the theory of science
- can evaluate the expediency and application of different methods and processes in research projects in humanities and social sciences
- can contribute to the development of new knowledge, new theories, methods, interpretations, and forms of documentation in humanities and social sciences
- has profound insight into the ethical guidelines for humanities and social sciences
Skills
The candidate can
- formulate problems, plan, and carry out research at an international level
- handle complex academic issues and challenge established knowledge and practice in humanities and social sciences
General competence
The candidate can
- identify relevant ethical issues and carry out his/her research with scholarly integrity
- manage interdisciplinary assignments and projects
- communicate research and development work through recognized Norwegian and international channels
- assess the need for new knowledge and initiate and practice innovation
Reading list
Here you can find the reading list for this course.
Part of the literature will be available digitally, while other parts might only be available in paper format. Some of the literature will be available as compendiums, which you can find via the course room in Canvas.
You will automatically get access to literature that is available digitally when you are sitting at MF, otherwise you can get access by using Oria or by using "External access" in the library's list of databases.
Note that it will take some time before link to the reading list is updated. Please make sure that you are looking at the correct semester's reading list.
Course responsible
