2025
Topics in Epistemology of Sciences
Name: Topics in Epistemology of Sciences
Code: HIS09377D
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Philosophy of Sciences
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
This unit seeks to provide students with critical analysis and hermeneutical skills to the epistemological problems present in the various areas of the scientific research.
Students should be enabled 1. To consider the problems that the diversity, complexity and relevance of sciences bring into Contemporary societies,2. To understand the historical, cultural and axiological dimensions of science and technology and, correlatively, their social repercussions, and 3. to analyze the epistemological issues concerning the nature of the subject of science, the scientific objects and the rationality that science builds.
Students should be enabled 1. To consider the problems that the diversity, complexity and relevance of sciences bring into Contemporary societies,2. To understand the historical, cultural and axiological dimensions of science and technology and, correlatively, their social repercussions, and 3. to analyze the epistemological issues concerning the nature of the subject of science, the scientific objects and the rationality that science builds.
Contents
The consolidation of Modern Science and the anthropological impact of Techno-science.
1. From Epistemology to Philosophy of Science. The scientific methodologies. Beliefs and ideologies. Unity and variety of science. Types of sciences and the diversity of validation processes.
1.1 The epistemology of the scientific subject and of the scientific objects (theories, models, laws, facts, tools).
1.2 The scientific rationality. The explanation in science. Laws and probabilities. Causality and teleology. Experimentation and observation. The structure of scientific theories. Models, metaphors and analogies.
1.3 The historicity of Science. The notions of continuity, progress and scientific crisis. Emergency contexts, of discovery and justification. The consolidation of knowledge, education and dissemination.
1.4 Regional epistemologies. Interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity.
1.5 The Epistemology of Social Sciences. Social studies of Science and Technology.
1. From Epistemology to Philosophy of Science. The scientific methodologies. Beliefs and ideologies. Unity and variety of science. Types of sciences and the diversity of validation processes.
1.1 The epistemology of the scientific subject and of the scientific objects (theories, models, laws, facts, tools).
1.2 The scientific rationality. The explanation in science. Laws and probabilities. Causality and teleology. Experimentation and observation. The structure of scientific theories. Models, metaphors and analogies.
1.3 The historicity of Science. The notions of continuity, progress and scientific crisis. Emergency contexts, of discovery and justification. The consolidation of knowledge, education and dissemination.
1.4 Regional epistemologies. Interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity.
1.5 The Epistemology of Social Sciences. Social studies of Science and Technology.
Teaching Methods
Teaching/learning: presentation of the themes and discussion of selected texts; attendance to the scientific activities of the CEHFCi and other existing research units.
Valuation: Oral presentation and
Valuation: Oral presentation and
Certificações
