Science and Rationality

Pre-requisites: None

Course objectives: Student should gain insight into the basic problems of rationality that are related to scientific theories, both in natural and in social and historical sciences. That would provide student with the ability to distinguish factual from normative statements.

Course description: Primary focus of the course will be on the relation between facts and (cognitive and non-cognitive) values in scientific knowledge; after that, the problem of value neutrality in different stages of scientific research will be examined. After dealing with knowledge values in science (scientific axiology) and compatibility of different (theoretical and practical) scientific goals, the topic of scientific study of social values as well as the problems of scientific ethics and social responsibility of scientists (e.g. the conflicts in social roles of scientists). Afterwards, attention is directed to the philosophical critique of science and technology, in order to finish the course with several topics related to social and historical sciences (interpretative and understanding approach, subjectivism and activity in social science, problems of evaluation in history etc.)

Learning Outcomes: Students are expected to become familiar with the matter of the course as it is covered in lectures and exercises, relying on the mandatory and additional literature. For grading, it will be particularly taken into account the active participation in classes and prepared thematic expositions.

Literature/Reading:

• Vilijem Njutn-Smit, Racionalnost nauke, Beograd, 2002.