- Inter-faculty Studies in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Bachelor's degree, first cycle programme, Computer Science
- Bachelor's degree, first cycle programme, Mathematics
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Computer Science
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Mathematics
Epistemology A 3501-WISIP-EPA-OG
Epistemology is concerned with such questions as “What, if anything, do we know?”, “What is knowledge?”. We will begin by looking at scientific knowledge. Despite the fact that it appears to be the most solid kind of knowledge, it has been subject to a serious skeptical challenge (Hume’s problem of induction). We will discuss the two main responses to the skeptical challenge (neo-inductivism and falsificationism), paying particular attention to their accounts of justification. In the second and main part of the course, we will take up the difficult issue of the analysis of knowledge. We will consider the challenge of Gettier’s problem. We will then consider various theories of justification (theories of the structure of knowledge) and the debate between internalism and externalism.
Introduction. Rationalism and Empiricism. A priori A posteriori. Deduction and Induction.
Weak Inductionism. Problem of Induction. Wide Inductionism. Popper’s Falsificationism
Conceptual Analysis. The JTB Account of Knowledge.
Gettier Problem. Internalist Solutions. Nozick’s Theory of Knowledge Goldman’s causal theory of knowledge. Goldman’s reliabilism. Internalism vs Externalism
The Regress Problem. Foundationalism. Coherentism. Infinitism
Type of course
general courses
Learning outcomes
- knows basic epistemological terminology in English (W03, W05)
- knows the relation between epistemology and the main philosophical subdisciplines (W02)
- knows the relation between epistemology and sciences of cognition (W02)
- has knowledge of the main positions in epistemology (W06, W08)
- understands the main epistemological problems (W06, W08)
- knows what giving arguments and counterarguments consists in (W14)
- knows what conceptual analysis consists in (W14)
- is able to apply epistemological terminology correctly (U05)
- is able to analyze epistemological arguments, identify its crucial premises as well as understand the relations between the conclusions and premises (U04, U07, U08, U09)
- is able to give arguments for and against the main positions in contemporary epistemology (U07, U8, U09, U16)
- is open to discussion (K02)
- is open to new proposals of solutions to problems (K02)
Assessment criteria
See relevant section below (for a given academic year)
Bibliography
See a relevant section below (for a given academic year)
Additional information
Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:
- Inter-faculty Studies in Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Bachelor's degree, first cycle programme, Computer Science
- Bachelor's degree, first cycle programme, Mathematics
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Computer Science
- Master's degree, second cycle programme, Mathematics
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: