Pseudoscience and how to recognize it WF-FI-PSYCH-WAG23
The lecture provides an introduction to the problem of demarcation, i.e. how to distinguish science from pseudo-science. During the lecture, students will learn what science and scientific knowledge are and how they are distinguished from other human cognitive activities. They will also learn about the history of the formation of the modern understanding of science and how it influenced the marginalization of other sources of knowledge - such as mystical and philosophical cognition. Thanks to the lecture, the student will also be able to understand what characterizes pseudo-scientific theories, what standards they do not meet, and why they are popular. But also the student will be able to consider the question: is science itself rational or is its rationality only temporary? The lecture will therefore provide an opportunity to improve the student's critical thinking skills
(in Polish) E-Learning
(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych
(in Polish) Opis nakładu pracy studenta w ECTS
Subject level
Learning outcome code/codes
Type of subject
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
ECTS [1 ECTS = 30(25) hrs]:
participation in lecture: 0-30 hrs.
preparation for credit: 30-60 hrs.
Total hours (average): 60 [60/30(25)=2]
ECTS number: 2
Knowledge:
1. the student knows and understands the basic concepts of the philosophy of science concerning the problem of demarcation;
2. the student knows the ideas and arguments used in discussions on the problem of demarcation;
3. the student understands and recognises the problems associated with the use of given demarcation concpecs when assessing the scientific value of the theory under analysis, and realises that standards of scientificness have changed over time.
Skills:
1. the student reads and interprets philosophical texts on the philosophy of science;
2. the student perceives and recognises problems in media and cultural messages misusing scientific methodologies and is able to recognise a scientific text from a text imitating it.
Competences:
1. the student knows the extent of his/her knowledge in the philosophy of science;
2. the student understands the need for continuous education and development in the field of philosophical issues presented in class
Assessment criteria
The final grade consists of:
1. a grade for activity in classes according to the scale
Activity in 15-14 classes - 5
On 13 - 4.5
On 12-11 - 4
For 10 - 3.5
For 9-7 - 3
Below 6 - 2
2 Marks for oral presentation
Other details will be given in class.
The final grade is a weighted average of the activity grade (1/3) and the presentation grade (2/3)
Bibliography
Sady W., Spór o racjonalność naukową, Wydawnictwo UMK, 2013
Additional
Amsterdamski S., Między historia a matodą. Spory o racjonalność nauki, Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, Warszawa 1983.
Regal B. PSeudoscience. A critical encyclopedia, Greenwood, Santa Barabara 2009
Philosophy of pseudoscience. Reconsidering the Demarcation Problem, red. M. Pigliucci, M. Boundry, The University of Chicago Press, Chicago 2013
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: