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| ENVT0847-1 | Epistemology and the environment (environmental knowledge models)
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| Duration : | 15h Th, 10h Pr |
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| Credits/ECTS : |
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| Holder(s) : | François Melard |
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| Language : | Langue française |
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| Course contents : | This course is intended to contrast different forms of gaining knowledge about the environment (laboratory, in the field, intervention) and their implications with regard to environmental action and environmental management. |
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| Course objective : | In the course of research or the development of expertise several different relationships to the phenomena studied do exist, and they can affect each other. We will examine three of these: the logic of the laboratory (for which modelling, predicting, and discovering rules are important), the logic of direct description (for which exploration, experience and singular cases are important) and the logic of research intervention (for which definitions and solutions to interesting problems are arrived at thanks to the active participation of lay persons and professionals).
Themes such as the explanation of strong and weak points of the laboratory model, the difference between what is true and what is interesting, or attitudes towards research procedures and expert procedures on the part of those affected by the results - these are the things we will concentrate on.
A number of examples will be used as illustrations: particularly those involving the controversy concerning genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the well-being of animals.
Why certain problems are hard to understand |
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| Organization : | This course is offered in the form of a module of three consecutive days. It will take place during the second semester. |
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| Assessment : | Written exam. |
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| Contacts : | François Mélard - f.melard@ulg.ac.be
Phone: 063/230 901 |
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