Subject 'Basics of Science Philosophy'

Year:   2012/2013    2013/2014    2014/2015    2015/2016    2016/2017    

There are only few topics in philosophy that have clear real practical value. One of those few is the distinction between credible and incredible. Literally sometimes lives are lost if a person is unable to correctly evaluate opinions, advices, sources, products etc. In this course we will analyze and evaluate paradigmatic cases.

The objective of the course is to obtain the situation, where every student can independently give correct well-founded evaluations of scientists, scientific institutions, journals and papers in reasonable time.

The student who has completed the course
• distinguishes science from pseudoscience;
• identifies the influence of external factors (political views, religious views, nationalistic feelings, interests, needs and prejudice of society, etc.) to the scientific activities and results;
• evaluates comparatively the quality of scientists, scientific institutions, scientific journals and scientific papers;
• uses only trusted sources for searching necessary information;
• values science as the most trustworthy source of knowledge;
• abides the principles of scientific ethics in his/ her academic work.

Lectures, seminars, independent search of information and critical evaluation of it.

Mandatory literature:
• Bachmann, Talis. Teaduspraktika tahud ja toed. Tartu: Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus, 2004. http://dspace.utlib.ee/dspace/handle/10062/18997

Recommended literature
• Chalmers, A.F.. Mis asi see on, mida nimetatakse teaduseks: arutlus teaduse olemusest ja seisundist ning teaduslikest meetoditest. Tartu: Ilmamaa, 1998..
• Kuhn,Th.S.. Teadusrevolutsioonide struktuur. Tartu: Ilmamaa 2003.
• Sismondo, Sergio. "Sissejuhatus teaduse ja tehnika uuringutesse". Tallinn: Tallinna Tehnikaülikooli Kirjastus.
• Gould, Stephan Jay. Vääriti mõõdetud inimene. Tallinn: Varrak, 2001.
• Hvostov, Andrei. Mõtteline Eesti. Tallinn: Vagabund, 1999.
• Fox-Keller, Evelyn 2001. Mõtisklusi soost ja teadusest.
• Ben Goldacre. Pahateadus. Tallinn: Noria Books, 2009.

Grading: pass/failure grading is used. The final result is either "passed", "not passed" or "failure to appear".

• The students who have fulfilled all the tasks in time get "passed" at the end of the course.
• The students who have missed some tasks get "failure to appear" and have to submit additional independent work.
• The students who break the rules of academic integrity get "not passed" and have to submit additional independent work.

Teadusfilosoofia alused - Priit Pärnapuu

2019: RR  

2018: AT  ET  HE  KK  ME  RA  RG  RR  TD  TE  TK  TL*  

2017: AT  ET  HE  KK  KT  ME  RA  RG  RR  RT  TD  TE  TK  TL*  TT  

2016: AT  ET  HE  KT  ME  RA  RG  RR  RT  TD  TE  TK  TL  TT  

2015: AT  ET  HE  KT  ME  RA  RG  RR  RT  TD  TE  TL  TT  

2014: AT  ET  HE  KT  ME  RA  RG  RR  RT  TD  TE  TL  TT  

2013: AT  ET  HE  KT  ME  RA  RG  RR  RT  TD  TE  TL  TT  

2012: AT  EI  ET  GI  KT  LI  MI  RA  RR  RT  TD  TEI  TI  

2011: AT  EI  GI  KT  LI  MI  RA  RR  RT  TD  TEI  TI  

2010: AT  EI  GI  KT  LI  MI  RA  RR  RT  TD  TEI  TI  

2009: AT  EI  GI  KT  LI  MI  RA  RR  RT  TD  TEI  TI  

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