Understanding experience: an art of sociological interpretation 1600-SZD-N-RD-SOC
For over a hundred years, there has been a debate about the character and role of meaning, understanding, and interpretation in the social sciences. This debate essentially preserves the opposition between the interpretation/understanding of the meanings of action and events (anti-naturalism) and the causal explanation of social actions and phenomena (naturalism). Arguments for both positions will be presented by addressing the following topics: a) the relationship of philosophy to the social sciences, b) subjectivity and agency, c) explanation versus interpretation, d) rule-following and its connections with meaningful behavior, e) concepts and social life. The lecture part of the course will be devoted to a concise presentation of these issues. The discussion around the readings and the papers prepared by the seminar participants will focus on the limitations of both of these perspectives. Their indication and analysis, for example in the dimension of the limitations of reflexivity, rationality, the illusion of perspectives, the role of emotions and habits, will serve to initially define the position of rational ignorance.
Course coordinators
Type of course
Learning outcomes
Knowledge (W; in Polish: “wiedza”) (the graduate knows and understands)
WG_01 to the extent enabling the revision of existing paradigms - the world’s achievements relating to theoretical
foundations as well as general and selected specific issues - relevant to a particular discipline within the social
sciences
WG_03 the methodology of scientific research in the field of the social sciences
WK_01 fundamental dilemmas of modern civilisation from the perspective of the social sciences
Skills: Can:
Skills (U; in Polish: “umiejętności”) (the graduate is able to)
UW_01 Take advantage of knowledge from different academic fields, in particular the social sciences to creatively
identify, formulate and innovatively solve complex problems or perform research tasks, especially:
− define the aim and subject of scientific research in the field of the social sciences, formulate a research
hypothesis,
− develop research methods, techniques and tools and use them creatively,
− Draw conclusions on the basis of research results
UW_02 critically analysing and evaluating the research results within the social sciences, of expert activities and other
creative work and their contribution to the development of knowledge
Social competences (K; in Polish” “kompetencje społeczne”) (the graduate is ready to)
KK_01 critically evaluate achievements within a given scientific discipline in the field of the social sciences
Assessment criteria
Description of requirements related to participation in classes, including the permitted number of explained absences;
knowledge of the given texts and active participation in discussions; one absence permitted
Principles for passing the classes and the subject (including resit session);
active listening, joining in discussions, presentation
Methods for the verification of learning outcomes;
written or oral credit
Evaluation criteria: knowledge of obligatory texts, activity during classes, presentation
Bibliography
Basic (classical) texts by Max Weber, Peter Winch, Charles Taylor, Hans-Georg Gadamer and contemporary texts, selected to address the issues discussed in class