PhD

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This postgraduate course provides an advanced look on the main philosophical questions concerning scientific knowledge and methodology. It surveys a variety of positions on standard philosophy of science topics, centered around three basic themes: 1) History of science, including contemporary science; 2) General problems of philosophy of science (difference between science and non-science, scientific confirmation, structure of scientific theory, scientific method, scientific change, scientific ethics, etc.); 3) Philosophy of technology with focus on philosophy of computer science and philosophy of Internet. 

The course “History and philosophy of science” is included in the study plan of post-graduate students who study computer science according to the Federal State Education Standard and the certificate of successful passing of this exam is necessary for defending a PhD thesis in Russia.

The course is 40 hours total: 30 hours of lectures (15 lectures), 10 hours of seminars (5 seminars). The final exam is assessed by the commission of three professors with qualifications in philosophy of science.

 The language of tuition is English.

 COURSE OVERVIEW BY WEEK

Week 1

Lecture 1. Introduction to philosophy of science

Lecture 2. 19th century positivism

Week 2

Lecture 3-4. 20th century positivism

Week3

Lecture 5. Ancient and medieval science

Lecture 6. Scientific revolution

Week 4

Lecture 7. Contemporary science

Lecture 8. Scientific change

Week 5

Lecture 9. Scientific method

Lecture 10. Scientific theory

Week 6

Lecture 11. Ethics of science

Lecture 12. Social dimensions of science

Week 7

Lecture 13. Philosophy of technology

Lecture 14. Philosophy of computer science

Week 8

Lecture 15. Philosophy of Internet

Seminar 1 Standard problems in philosophy of science

Week 9

Seminar 2. Contemporary science: what is it?

Seminar 3. Concepts of technological revolutions

Week 10

Seminar 4. Philosophy of AI

Seminar 5. Ethics of computer and Internet technologies