Bi4865 Scientific knowledge and thinking

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2010
Extent and Intensity
2/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Jan Havliš, Dr. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Jan Havliš, Dr.
Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: doc. Mgr. Jan Havliš, Dr.
Timetable
Thu 8:00–9:50 C02/211
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
main objectives of lecture: understanding the term science in its wider sense; analysis of development of scientific study of phenomena, of its tools and means up to its contemporary state and description; mastering practical knowledge connected to different aspects of scientific work
Syllabus
  • A. science as a method
  • 1. science – what all it could be and what not (non-science, anti-science)
  • 2. development and history of scientific thinking
  • 3. science and philosophy, epistemology, language
  • 4. methods and tools of discovering (causality, sentences, formal logic, system theory, statistics, experimental design)
  • 5. procedure of science (shaping presumptions/aims/means, observation/data collection, hypothesis, hypothesis testing, generalisation, theory)
  • B. science as a part of social cognisance
  • 1. role of science in society, applications, technology
  • 2. popularisation of science
  • 3. ethics and character of scientific work (collaboration vs competition)
  • C. science as a system
  • 1. scientific information, publication and communication (literary research, process and ways of publishing), scientometry, importance of scientific lingua franca - English
  • 2. scientific community (universities, colleges, research institutes, industry)
  • 3. funding science
Literature
  • M. E. Gorman et al., Scientific and Technological Thinking, LEA 2005
  • R. D. Tweney, M. E. Roberty, C. R. Mynatt, On Scientific Thinking, Columbia 1981
  • HORYNA, Břetislav. Teorie vědy. Úvodní poznámky (The Philosphy of Science). In B. Horyna - J. Krob (eds.), Cesty k vědě. 1st ed. Olomouc: nakladatelství Olomouc, 2007, p. 122-138, 16 pp. 1. ISBN 978-80-7182-223-3. info
  • FAJKUS, Břetislav. Filosofie a metodologie vědy : vývoj, současnost a perspektivy. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 2005, 339 s. ISBN 8020013040. info
  • NEUBAUER, Zdeněk. O Sněhurce, aneb, Cesta za smyslem bytí a poznání. Vyd. 1. Praha: Malvern, 2004, 287 s. ISBN 8086702022. URL info
  • DEMJANČUK, Nikolaj. Filosofie a vědecké myšlení :proměna obrazu vědy v analytické tradici. 1. vyd. Dobrá Voda: Aleš Čeněk, 2002, 245 s. ISBN 80-86473-19-8. info
  • FEYERABEND, Paul. Rozprava proti metodě. Praha: Aurora, 2001, 431 pp. ISBN 80-7299-047-0. info
  • ŠESTÁK, Zdeněk. Jak psát a přednášet o vědě. Illustrated by Hana Kymrová. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 1999, 204 s. ISBN 8020007555. info
  • FEYERABEND, Paul K. Tři dialogy o vědění. Translated by Jiří Fiala - Petra Bidlasová - Markéta Kyloušková. 1. vyd. Praha: Vesmír, 1999, 179 s. ISBN 80-85977-04-4. info
  • DAWKINS, Richard. Unweaving the rainbow :science, delusion and the appetite for wonder. 1st pub. London: Penguin Books, 1999, xvi, 335 s. ISBN 0-14-026408-6. info
  • HOLTON, Gerald James. Věda a antivěda. Translated by Otakar Jelínek. Vyd. 1. Praha: Academia, 1999, 214 s. ISBN 8020007172. info
  • Logika vědeckého bádání. Edited by Karl R. Popper. 1. vyd. Praha: OIKOYMENH, 1997, xliv, 617. ISBN 80-86005-45-3. info
  • LEM, Stanislaw. Summa technologiae. Praha: Magnet-Press, 1995, 328 s. ISBN 80-85847-47-7. info
Teaching methods
the lecture is based on ppt presentation, its explication and discussion to this explication. presentation it-self will be available as a 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.
Assessment methods
oral examination; consists of two questions referring the first to practical and the second to philosophical aspects of scientific knowledge. as for the question on the first theme, understanding and knowledge are required. as for the second theme, the student should be able to relevantly dispute about.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught each semester.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2011 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2010 - only for the accreditation, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2009, Spring 2011, Autumn 2011, Spring 2012, Autumn 2011 - acreditation, spring 2012 - acreditation, Autumn 2012.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2010, recent)
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