Foundations of philosophy and methodology of science

Pre-requisites: None

Course objectives: Student will get acquainted with the main methodological categories that are part of the empirical sciences, especially social (primarily in sociology), which includes mastering the basic fund of philosophical and, especially, methodological concepts.

Course description: The first half of the course makes the treatment of selected problems of philosophy and normative methodology of science: definition of science and methodology, the components of scientific method, the arguments in philosophy, the concept of science, the relationship of science and philosophy, the classification of sciences, the unity of method, scientific problems and hypotheses, growth of knowledge in science, scientific facts, theories and systems, inductive and deductive reasoning, etc. The second half of the course is devoted to philosophical and methodological aspects of sociological theory, and within it are the topics such as: potentials and limitations of different methods, development of methods and techniques of research, institutional and theoretical development of science, the notion of scientific paradigm, the direction and orientation in the philosophy of social science, relationship between systematics and history of science and so on.

Learning Outcomes: Students are expected to know the philosophical matter as it is covered in lectures and exercises, relying on the compulsory literature. The evaluation will take into account special seminars, active participation in classes and presentations.

Literature/Reading:

• Staniša Novaković, Uvod u opštu metodologiju i istorija metodološke misli, Beograd, 1994.