Philosophy of science and ethics

This course is recommended as part of the compulsory credits in philosophy of science and research ethics within the instruction component of the PhD programs in natural and social sciences.

The course aims to introduce the participants to core issues in the philosophy and ethics of science. The course will convey different concepts and positions regarding the demarcation of science from non-science, the nature of the scientific method, theories of explanation and confirmation, the rationality and progress of theory change, modelling and inference under uncertainty, the role of science and technology in society, and the ethical responsibilities of scientists.

The course is open for students admitted to a PhD program. Priority will be given to PhD students from the BFE faculty, participants in international project in which the faculty has an educational responsibility, PhD students from the NT faculty, PhD students from other faculties at UiT, and PhD students from UNIS. The number of participants is limited to 50.

Contact Ingjerd Gauslaa Nilsen (Ingjerd.nilsen@uit.no) at the BFE-faculty if you have any questions regarding course registration or other queries.

By the end of the course, students will be expected to understand:

• the basic issues in the philosophy of science, such as the demarcation problem, the debate among competing accounts of the scientific method, the problem of induction, and the concepts of paradigms and scientific revolutions;
• the role and place of science and technology in modern societies;
• various ethical positions and the main ethical issues relating to science.

By the end of the course, the students will be expected to have gained the following skills:

• the ability to communicate key philosophical and ethical concepts;
• the ability to engage in contemporary debates about the nature and role of science;
• the ability to see their own research in a wider perspective, and to critically reflect upon the basic assumptions and challenges of their research projects.

If you pass the examination in this course, you will get an reduction in credits (as stated below), if you previously have passed the following courses:

• BIO-8603 Philosophy of science and ethics 6 stp
• HEL-8010 Research Ethics and Theory of Science 3 stp
• SVF-8054 Theory of Science 7 stp
• SVF-8038 Research Ethics 3 stp
• HEL-8040 Theory of science, research ethics and research design 3 stp

Teaching runs as an intensive course over two weeks with 20 hours of lectures and 12 hours of group discussions and seminars. Course dates: To be announced.

NB! You have to participate in at least 80 % of the teaching to be allowed to take the exam. Attendance at lectures will be registered.

Language of instruction and examination

Home exam: A written essay of 10 pages to be completed about one month after the course. Grade: pass or fail.

Coursework requirements: Two short exercises.