Epistemology: science and pseudoscience

6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 1023483ANW for working students in the 1st semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester

1st semester

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Taught in

Dutch

Faculty

Faculty of Languages & Humanities

Department

History, Archaeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics

Educational team

Steffen Ducheyne (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

12 contact hours Lecture
20 contact hours Seminar, Exercises or Practicals
100 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

In this introductory course, students are familiarized with some contemporary issues within epistemology and in particular with debates on the epistemological status of science and 'pseudo-science'. The course material consists of two parts: Part 1. In this part we consider the question 'What is scientific knowledge and what is the scientific attitude?'. Part 2. In this part we consider the question 'Does science/scientific knowledge differ from so-called 'pseudoscience'/'pseudoscientific' knowledge and, if so, how?'. We will also take into account the history of 'pseudoscience' and the different shapes that it can take.

Additional info

The course will consist of a reader with mainly English state-of-the-art literature. Both this literature and the slides can be found on the CANVAS space of this course from the start of the semester. The CANVAS space will be used as the communication tool between the teacher and the students and it must be closely monitored by the students. Slides are added weekly.

Learning Outcomes

General competences

The learning outcomes of this course are as follows:

1. The students are able to characterize the epistemological status of scientific knowledge and the scientific attitude.

2. The students are familiar with the history of 'pseudoscience', can make connections between contemporary forms of 'pseudoscience' and forms in the past and are familiar with the different shapes that 'pseudoscience' can take.

3. During discussions, students are able to pinpoint the pros and cons of a number of contemporary positions on the demarcation debate between science and 'pseudoscience'.

4. Students are able to develop and argue for their position on the demarcation debate in a research paper.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
PRAC Practical Assignment determines 20% of the final mark.
SELF Paper determines 80% of the final mark.

Within the PRAC Practical Assignment category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Activerende werkvormen with a relative weight of 20 which comprises 20% of the final mark.

Within the SELF Paper category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Paper with a relative weight of 80 which comprises 80% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

The grade obtained on the paper determines 80% of the final grade. The grade obtained on participation during the discussion classes determines 20% of the final grade.

The use of generative AI is permitted for certain purposes, to wit (1) for the purpose of spelling corrector and (2) for the purpose of brain storm tool for formulating research questions. Such uses of generative AI must be properly acknowledged. For purposes other than (1) and (2) the use of generative AI is not permitted.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context