ML: How Culture and Society Shape Science WF-FI-123-WMANWA25
The course examines the interplay between the internal intellectual development of science and its broader social, cultural, and economic contexts. It introduces key approaches in the history and philosophy of science, from internalist reconstructions of scientific progress to externalist analyses that emphasize science’s embeddedness in society. Through both theoretical discussions and focused case studies, students engage with influential models of scientific development, including Ludwik Fleck’s concept of thought collectives, Thomas Kuhn’s theory of paradigms and scientific revolutions, and Paul Feyerabend’s epistemological anarchism. Historical examples—such as Boris Hessen’s study of Newton’s work in relation to 17th-century economic structures, Paul Forman’s analysis of the cultural origins of quantum mechanics, and debates over Charles Darwin’s theological influences—serve to illustrate the methods and stakes of contextual analysis. The course also explores contemporary historiographical contributions, such as G. Levits and U. Hossfeld’s work on metaparadigms in German biology.
By combining methodological reflection with concrete historical case studies, the course aims to equip students with analytical tools for understanding science as both a cognitive enterprise and a cultural phenomenon. Students will learn to critically assess explanations of scientific change, recognize the variety of factors shaping scientific knowledge, and appreciate the ongoing dialogue between scientific ideas and their historical contexts.
E-Learning
Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych
Opis nakładu pracy studenta w ECTS
Poziom przedmiotu
Symbol/Symbole kierunkowe efektów uczenia się
Typ przedmiotu
Wymagania wstępne
Koordynatorzy przedmiotu
Efekty kształcenia
FI1_W03 : Posługuje się podstawową terminologią filozofii nauki w języku angielskim, dotyczącą zagadnień współczesnej filozofii i historii nauki.
FI1_W08 : Student opisuje specyfikę metodologiczną i przedmiotową współczesnej filozofii i socjologii nauki, w tym relacje między naukami przyrodniczymi a filozofią i naukami społecznymi.
FI1_U07 : Rekonstruuje i ocenia podstawowe typy argumentacji występujące w debatach z zakresu filozofii i historii nauki.
FI1_U11 : Formułuje odpowiedzi w języku angielskim na pytania problemowe dotyczące treści filozoficznych
FI1_K06 : Dąży do stałego rozwijania kompetencji filozoficznych w języku angielskim, wykazując inicjatywę w wyszukiwaniu i analizie dostępnych źródeł.
FI1_W03 : The student uses basic philosophy of science terminology in English, pertaining to issues in contemporary philosophy and history of science.
FI1_W08 : The student describes the methodological and subject-specific features of contemporary philosophy and sociology of science, including the relationships between the natural sciences, philosophy, and the history.
FI1_U07 : The student translates and explains philosophical excerpts from English-language texts concerning the philosophy and history of science.
FI1_U10 : The student reconstructs and evaluates the main types of argumentation found in debates within the philosophy and history of science (i.e. externalism, internalism, paradigm, incommensurability)
FI1_U11 : The student formulates responses in English to problem-solving questions about philosophical content.
FI1_K06 : The student strives to continually develop philosophical competence in English, demonstrating initiative in searching for and analyzing available sources.
Verification of learning outcomes : Class discussion, oral exam, analysis of the text
Kryteria oceniania
Assessment criteria:
1. Attending classes – 10 p.
2. Reading texts for classes and participating in discussions about them – 20 p.
3. Passing the oral exam – 40 p.
Grading Scale (0–70 pts)
2.0 (fail): 0–34 pts
3.0 (satisfactory): 35–44 pts
3.5 (satisfactory+): 45–49 pts
4.0 (good): 50–54 pts
4.5 (good+): 55–59 pts
5.0 (very good): 60–70 pts
Two absences are allowed.
Literatura
Required reading:
1. Hessen, B., The Social and Economic Roots of Newton's Principia in: Freudenthal, G., McLaughlin, P. (eds) The Social and Economic Roots of the Scientific Revolution, pp. 41–101. Boston Studies in the Philosophy of Science 278. Springer, Dordrecht. [on-line: https://surplusvalue.org.au/Science_Environment/Hessen%20Social%20&%20Economic%20Roots%20Newtons%20Principia.pdf].
2. Forman, P. (1971) “Weimar Culture, Causality, and Quantum Theory, 1918-1927: Adaptation by German Physicists and Mathematicians to a Hostile Intellectual Environment”. Historical Studies in the Physical Sciences 3: 1-115. [on-line: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261872821_Weimar_Culture_Causality_and_Quantum_Theory_1918-1927_Adaptation_by_German_Physicists_and_Mathematicians_to_a_Hostile_Intellectual_Environment].
3. Kohn, D. (1989) “Darwin's Ambiguity: The Secularization of Biological Meaning”. The British Journal for the History of Science 22(02): 215 - 239 [on-line: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/231945646_Darwin's_Ambiguity_The_Secularization_of_Biological_Meaning].
4. Levit, G. S., Hossfeld, U., “Major Research Traditions in Twentieth-Century Evolutionary Biology”, in: R. G. Delisle (ed) (2017) The Darwinian Tradition in Context, Cham: Springer [on-line: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322142549_Major_Research_Traditions_in_Twentieth-Century_Evolutionary_Biology_The_Relations_of_Germany's_Darwinism_with_Them].
Additional reading:
1. Navarro, J., Tampakis, K., (2023) Science, Religion and Nationalism. Local Perceptions and Global Historiographies, Nowy York; Routledge (selected excerpts).
2. Psillos S., Curd, M. (2010) The Routledge Companion To Philosophy Of Science, London, New York: Routledge.
Więcej informacji
Dodatkowe informacje (np. o kalendarzu rejestracji, prowadzących zajęcia, lokalizacji i terminach zajęć) mogą być dostępne w serwisie USOSweb: