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Abstract
Understanding is a central goal of science and mathematics, but what exactly is the nature of scientific and mathematical understanding? In this seminar, we will read and discuss a number of key philosophical contributions on understanding in philosophy of science, philosophy of mathematics, and epistemology. You will also practice your skills in giving clear and engaging oral presentations.
Objective
The main objective of this seminar is to gain an in-depth understanding of the recent literature on understanding in the philosophy of science, the philosophy of mathematics, and epistemology. Another practical objective is to increase your skills in giving clear and engaging oral presentations.
Content
Understanding is a central goal of science and mathematics: scientists seek to understand various phenomena in the natural world, while mathematicians aim to increase our understanding of the mathematical world. But what exactly is the nature of understanding in science and mathematics? This issue has been largely neglected in twentieth century philosophy of science, philosophy of mathematics, and epistemology. Yet, in the past twenty years, there has been a regain of philosophical interest into the notion of understanding, leading to a flourishing literature. The aim of this seminar is to gain an in-depth understanding of these recent philosophical developments. To this end, we will read a number of key philosophical contributions on understanding in philosophy of science, philosophy of mathematics, and epistemology. Along the way, we will address general issues on understanding such as: What is the relation between understanding and knowledge? Does understanding necessarily require explanation? How can understanding be transmitted? What exactly is the value of understanding? We will also look into specific case studies of scientific and mathematical understanding. Each session will be decomposed into three blocks. In blocks 1 and 2, we will have a short presentation (~15 minutes) of a contribution in the philosophy of understanding followed by a discussion. Block 3 will be methodological and will be concerned with how to give good oral presentations, an essential skill in academia. We will use this block to debrief on the presentations of the day and see how they could be improved. We will also discuss resources on best practices in oral communication.
General Information
- Language
- English
- Levels
- DS , DR
Examination
- Type
- graded semester performance
Course Components
| Type | Title | Time & Place | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| seminar |
Understanding in Science and Mathematics: A Philosophical Perspective
Does not take place this semester.
|
No time listed | 21 h semesterly |
Offered In
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Science in Perspective (In “Science in Perspective”-courses students learn to reflect on ETH’s STEM subjects from the perspective of humanities, political and social sciences. Only the courses listed below will be recognized as "Science in Perspective" courses.)
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Type A: Enhancement of Reflection Competence (SiP courses are recommended for bachelor students after their first-year examination and for all master- or doctoral students. All SiP courses are listed in Type A. Courses listed under Type B are only recommendations for enrollment for specific departments.)
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Type B: Reflection About Subject-Specific Methods and Contents (Subject-specific courses. Particularly relevant for students interested in those subjects. All these courses are also listed under the category “Typ A”, and every student can enroll in these courses.)
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Doctorate Humanities, Social and Political Sciences (More Information at: )