MA seminar 2 WF-FI-PCECE-MCDE2
The title of this seminar is borrowed from recent book edited by Matthias Steup, John Turri and Ernest Sosa, which covers several current, most debated issues in epistemology: (1) the place of experience in the structure of knowledge; (2) the closure (or lack thereof) of knowledge under entailment; (3) the role of context; (4) skepticism and ways of refuting it; (5) knowledge apriori; (6) justification; (7) the notion and value of evidences; (8) the concept and criteria of truth.
In all these issues certain clear cut opposing views can be shown, which helps to evaluate arguments and reveal philosophical assumptions of the parties. By analyzing these debates we shall define open, unresolved problems and make a list of viable topics for master works. The seminar participants will be asked to chose their topics after the first semester and to start working on their projects. The remaining three semesters will be divided into two parallel activities: (1) keeping track of student's projects and fostering their work by providing context, introducing new readings t the seminar, and commenting on the drafts; (2) studying further epistemological literature of general relevance, common to all individual projects.
Not all particular topics can be determined for this seminar, especially for its second part, because they will largely depend on individual MA projects. The list below contains some topic, which are fixed, and will reflect the structure of the afore mentioned book. Two meetings will be devoted to each of the listed topics - “yes” and “no” answers will be considered and the exchange of arguments as it shows in relevant publications. In the second pat of the seminar the readings will be selected in more flexible manner: apart from analytic literature also phenomenological and hermeneutic tradition and methods will be pursued.
The topics for the first semester
1. Is knowledge ultimately based on experience?
2. Do logical consequences of a sentence expressing a piece of knowledge also express knowledge?
3. Can we detach knowledge for its context? (Can a piece of knowledge stop being one in another context?)
4. Are there decisive (refuting) arguments against skepticism?
5. Do we have any a priori knowledge?
6. Can a piece of knowledge have an immediate and local justification?
7. What counts as evidence of knowledge?
8. Is knowledge primarily about truth?
(in Polish) E-Learning
Term 2020/21_L: (in Polish) E-Learning (pełny kurs) z podziałem na grupy | Term 2019/20_L: (in Polish) E-Learning |
(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych
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Learning outcome code/codes
Type of subject
Course coordinators
Term 2020/21_L: | Term 2019/20_L: |
Learning outcomes
Knowledge: The students will be introduced in contemporary epistemology as a field of ongoing debates. They will know which epistemological problems are shred by analytic and non-analytic traditions - special emphasis will be on the problems of knowledge, belief, rationality. Students will also learn about relations between epistemology and philosophy of science (also axiology and theory of action). Special part of the seminar will be devoted to much discussed distinction between epistemology and cognitive science. Students will get to recognize the difference.
Skills: Students will be practicing conceptual ad logical analysis of problems and theories. They shall acquire proficiency in using analytic vocabulary and concepts. They will learn how to discover and define unresolved problems.
Attitudes: The discipline in of carrying out research tasks, which requires long term focus on the assigned problem. Students will also learn to work the problems piece by piece and be always ready to present their results in clear presentations.
Assessment criteria
Requirements: (1) essays based on common or individual readings (the latter usually in connection with master projects) are due the end of each semester; (2) the MA work outline (synopsis) is due the end of the first semester; (3) the fragments of the MA work in progress must be presented on seminars systematically – it will not be allowed to present the whole work all at once without presenting and discussing its parts on seminars; (4) the whole Master thesis is required in April the second year of the seminar in order to allow time for criticism and correction before the works are due to submission
Bibliography
Matthias Steup, John Turri and Ernest Sosa "Conteporary Debates in Epistemology".
Additional information
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