Research seminar "Methods in social Sciences-2"

2021/2022

Учебный год

ENG

Обучение ведется на английском языке

3

Кредиты

Кто читает:

Факультет мировой экономики и мировой политики

Статус:

Курс обязательный

Когда читается:

3-й курс, 2 модуль

Преподаватель

Рубин Доминик

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course introduces students to further topics in the philosophy and methodology of the social sciences. In this course, we continue to look at the methods and foundations of science and social science. In the first part of the course, we focused on different methodological and epistemological approaches to social science. In this course, we will do two things: one, go deeper into some theoretical aspects of the ‘What is science?’ question; two, explore – as far as time permits – basic aspects of the field of Logic, both as a formal and informal discipline.

Learning Objectives

• The aim is for students is to get a sense of problems and discussions surrounding the role and definition of science in society. This should equip students to have a critical sense of their own disciplines (in International relations etc), as well as to approach current issues such as the role of science in health and politics (vaccinations, climate change, predicting and shaping the future). The Logic component of the course introduces students to a discipline that is necessary for understanding the foundations not only of science but linguistic and scientific discourse in general. It is helpful in allowing students to approach more precisely discussions and debates in various social sciences, as well as more generally in everyday life.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• Students have a greater awareness of the presuppositions underlying the methodologies behind the different subjects they study; they will have a meta-theoretical perspective that allows them to evaluate and choose between the different theories within the separate disciplines they will study on their International Relations BA
• Students have a greater awareness of the presuppositions underlying the methodologies behind the different subjects they study; they will have a meta-theoretical perspective that allows them to evaluate and choose between the different theories within the separate disciplines they will study on their International Relations BA.

Course Contents

• 1. Knowledge as such
• The logic of scientific method in general: deduction and induction
• Bayesian confirmation theory
• 2. What is specific about science?
• The problem of induction and methodological alternatives
• Laws of nature
• Scientific explanation
• Realism and anti-realism
• Scientific change and progress
• The specificities of social science
• Rational agency
• The limits of scientific rationality
• Science and normativity
• Methodological individualism versus holism

Assessment Elements

• Essay
• Seminar Participation
• Presentation
• exam
  Exam will be held online via LMS platform. Links and further details will be send via 'Notification service' in LMS.
• Essay
• Seminar Participation
• Presentation
• exam
  Exam will be held online via LMS platform. Links and further details will be send via 'Notification service' in LMS.
• Lecture attendance

Interim Assessment

• 2021/2022 2nd module
  0.5 * exam + 0.2 * Lecture attendance + 0.3 * Seminar Participation

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Godfrey-Smith, P. (2003). Theory and Reality : An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=324622
• Montuschi, E., & Cartwright, N. (2014). Philosophy of Social Science : A New Introduction (Vol. First edition). Oxford: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=924938
• Roth, P. A., & Turner, S. P. (2003). The Blackwell Guide to the Philosophy of the Social Sciences. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=231782

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Losee, J. (2001). A Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Science (Vol. 4th ed). Oxford [England]: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=139851
• Psillos, S. (2007). Philosophy of Science A-Z. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=194151