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| PHIL0110-1 | Epistemology of Health Sciences
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| Duration : | 15h Th |
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| Number of credits : |
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| Lecturer : | Vinciane Despret |
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Language(s) of instruction :
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| French language |
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Organisation and examination :
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| Teaching in the second semester |
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Course contents :
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| a. Introduction: What is epistemology? The place of epistemology in philosophy. The different sciences¿ specific problems: norm and objectivity; the specificity of sciences; the issue of testing. b. The notion of truth: history of the production of truth (M. Foucault) c. Science philosophy: theoretical history (Inductivism, Falsificationism, Popper, Kuhn¿s paradigms). New theories: the sociology of science, constructivism.
d. How does science relate to culture?
Practical case: nature sciences: Darwinism and its reception; contemporary ethology and primatology. How does the social, political or ideological context influence the definitions of scientific subjects, examination and interview methods and information collection? (Is science really natural?)
e. Biology as a science of culture
Practical case: the role of metaphors, practices and representations in biology¿s recent history: ova; embryology and genetics; sexual hormones. How have political, social, ideological but also technical contexts influenced the evolution of the subjects of biomedical sciences; how do scientists build reality? Are scientific facts objectively established or collectively created? |
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Learning outcomes of the course :
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| Critically considering the epistemological foundations of sciences, esp. those on which biomedical knowledge relies. |
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Prerequisites and co-requisites/ Recommended optional programme components :
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods :
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Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning) :
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| See : http://cipl82.philo.ulg.ac.be/horaires |
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Recommended or required readings :
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| Lecture notes will be available in the beginning of the cycle. |
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Assessment methods and criteria :
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| Exam: written |
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Work placement(s) :
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Organizational remarks :
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Contacts :
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| Professor V. Despret
Département de Philosophie, office 2/32b Place du XX Août Phone: 04/366 55 98 Secretary: 04/366 55 99 Email: v.despret@ulg.ac.be |
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| Items online : |
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| Online Notes |
| Notes are available on eCampus. |
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