C4866 Scientific knowledge and thinking

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Jan Havliš, Dr. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Jan Havliš, Dr.
National Centre for Biomolecular Research – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. Jan Havliš, Dr.
Supplier department: National Centre for Biomolecular Research – Faculty of Science
Prerequisites
the subject is open to any student with an interest in the principles behind scientific knowledge.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
the main objective of the course is to acquaint students with science in its wider sense, mainly as a reliable method of gaining knowledge.
Learning outcomes
at the end of the course students should be able:
to analyse the development of the scientific study of phenomena
to understand its tools and means (up to its contemporary state)
to master practical aspects connected to scientific work.
Syllabus
  • A. science as a method
  • : science – what all it could be and what not
  • :: pseudo-science, non-science, anti-science
  • : nature, development and history of (scientific) knowledge and thinking
  • : epistemology and language
  • : methods and tools of discovering
  • :: causality, statements, system theory, statistics, study design
  • : procedure of research
  • :: shaping presumptions/aims/means
  • :: observation
  • :: data collection, hypothesis, hypothesis testing, generalisation, theory
Literature
    recommended literature
  • ROSENBERG, Alex, Philosophy of science, 3rd Edition, Routledge 2011
  • FLEGR, Jaroslav. Frozen evolution. BookSurge Publishing 2008, ISBN 978-8086561738
  • POPPER, Karl R. The logic of scientific discovery. London: Routledge, 2001, 479 s. ISBN 041507892X. info
  • DAWKINS, Richard. Unweaving the rainbow : science, delusion and the appetite for wonder. 1st pub. London: Penguin Books, 1999, xvi, 335. ISBN 0140264086. info
  • DAWKINS, Richard. Climbing mount improbable. Illustrated by Lalla Ward. [London]: Viking, 1996, xi, 308. ISBN 9780670850181. info
Teaching methods
the lecture is based on ppt presentation and its explication. the presentation itself will be available as study material (black-and-white printable pdf with high resolution and restricted access rights). it is recommended to attend the lecture because of the explication, which significantly extends the presentation, and because of the limited availability of textbooks in english covering certain parts of the subject.
the subject will be eventually lectured if the number of enrolled students exceeds number 5. otherwise, i will propose to the czech students of the same subject C4865 taught primarily in czech to merge both subjects and both groups will be taught in english. if the merge is not approved by czech students (they have a legal right to be taught in their mother tongue if prefered), international students of C4866 will be given a chance to pass the subject without lecturing, combining study materials and on-demand tutorials (at max 2x2h per semester; contact the lecturer to set up the schedule).
at the beginning of the course, the document containing voluntary running tasks to consolidate the acquired knowledge will be uploaded to the study materials section.
Assessment methods
oral examination, students are required to understand and to be familiar with the principles and their applications. the examination consists of two questions referring to the theoretical and practical aspects of scientific knowledge. within both, understanding and ability to relevantly dispute about will be requested.
at the beginning of the course, the document containing voluntary running tasks to consolidate the acquired knowledge will be uploaded to the study materials section.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught each semester.
The course is taught: every week.
Teacher's information
the lecture is going to be merged with subject C4865 and taught in the same time slot - every wednesday 09:00-11:50 in C02-211.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2016, Autumn 2016, Spring 2017, autumn 2017, spring 2018, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2024, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2024/C4866