Epistemology / Epistémologie

Coordinator

Thomas Heams

Goals

he history and philosophy of science are a necessary complement to the development of scientific skills.

The aim of this course is to provide an introduction to these fields through case studies selected from the life sciences.

The goal is to develop critical and independent thinking about the methods and subjects of science in general and biology in particular.

Skills

• Développer un recul critique sur les questions scientifiques
• Maîtriser l'originalité de la démarche scientifique
• Acquérir une vision large des questions éthiques 
• Mettre en perspective les débats scientifiques contemporains au regard de l'histoire des sciences. 
• Préparer un exposé oral par de la bibliographie pertinente

Content

The following questions are addressed:

• The concept of scientific method through the ages.
• Creating life: a technical challenge or a theoretical challenge?
• What lies behind a concept: history of the notion of genetic programs.
• History of critical reactions to Darwinism.
• Necessary doubt, instrumentalized doubt: scientists faced with the unknown.
• What is scientific fraud?
• Science and society: new forms of expertise, citizen panels, public debates.
• Philosophers' thoughts on animals.

Format

Lectures, text and audiovisual document studies,  debates, oral presentations.

Special teaching methods

Language : English

Mandatory TU

ECTS : 2

Lectures : 15