PINS9100 Philosophy of Science in Sustainability Course description

The course will give the PhD candidates an epistemological basis for sustainability studies. Sustainability studies is now a vast area of research, concerning many disciplines and diverse areas of production, both material and immaterial. The aim is to give candidates a scientific theoretical foundation that will enable them to proceed with research on sustainability in their own area of study. The course will address basic theories and philosophy concerning ethics; the relation between human and nature, body and machine; and different philosophical perspectives on technology, ecology and sustainability. In addition, the course will include current theoretical developments such as more general philosophical perspectives and inquiries into sustainability and ecology regarding Information theory, Innovation theory, Systems theory, Socio-material theory, and Ethics related to the conceptual understanding of sustainability including as for example Eco-feminism. The syllabus may be abbreviated and adapted to fit the interest of the participants of the course in cooperation with the supervisors.

• The course will introduce the candidates to overarching philosophical perspectives and inquiries into technology, human/ nature, and human/machine relations, and explore and compare different epistemological positions, such as: Social constructivism, Hermeneutics, Phenomenology, Post-phenomenology, Critical realism, and Symbolic interactionism
• In addition, the course will include current theoretical developments such as: more general philosophical perspectives and inquiries into sustainability and ecology regarding Information theory, Innovation theory, Systems theory, Socio-material theory and Ethics related to the conceptual understanding of sustainability including Deep ecology, Eco-modernity, Dark Ecology, Eco-feminism, and Queer theory.

Completed Master’s degree (120 ECTS credits) or equivalent education level.

Upon completing the course, the candidates are expected to have gained the following learning outcomes (knowledge, skills and general competence).

Knowledge

The candidate:

• has an extensive understanding of what philosophy of science is
• has in dept knowledge of philosophy of science applied in sustainability studies
• has in depth understanding of the ethical positions and implications of various epistemological perspectives in science philosophy

Skills

The candidate:

• can integrate philosophy of science in research tasks and reflect on own research project
• can write a theoretical overview of epistemological perspectives in sustainability research
• can participate in debates on the philosophy of science foundations in their own field and in relation to different research traditions
• can critically assess research through analysis of concepts, models, and methods

General competence

The candidate:

• can identify and analyse philosophy of science problems and issues within their own and others’ research
• can recognize and discuss a variety of ethical implications of science philosophy applied to sustainability research
• can identify and discuss various technological paradigms in applied research

Teaching will take the form of lectures and seminar discussions. Concrete examples, preferably from the candidates’ own PhD projects, will be used as a basis for discussing different perspectives and aspects of the course’s content.

Active participation in the seminars is necessary to adequately understand the course material and themes. Participation is therefore mandatory, and candidates are expected to attend all days of teaching and required to attend at least 80 percent of teaching days. In special cases of documented illness, the course leader may accept exceptions to this requirement. In these cases, lack of participation can be substituted with alternative arrangements such as active reading of the relevant syllabus literature.

Course requirements are assessed as confirmed or not confirmed. The course requirement must be completed and confirmed within the given deadline in order to have the right to submit a final essay.

The course requirements are:

• A plenary presentation on a subject decided in collaboration with the course lecturer.
• A prepared opposition to at least one other presentation.
• 80 % attendance is required. 

Confirmed participation in the course and accepted final essay.

• Individual essay (4000-5000 words). The essay will discuss the most important theoretical aspects from the syllabus, with relevance for the candidate’s PhD project. Cover page, illustrations, and list of references come in addition.

All examination support material is allowed if source reference and quotation technique requirements are applied.

Assessment is pass/ fail.

If an essay is graded fail, the candidate has one opportunity resubmit a revised essay within a given time-period.

The final essay is assessed by the course lecturer and one other examinator. External examinators will be used regularly. The assessment of the essay is based on the learning outcomes for the course.

The course is primarily for PhD candidates. Unfilled places may be opened to applicants with a relevant Master’s degree or equivalent. Applicants must submit a summary (approximately one A4-sized page) containing information on their PhD project. The summary must be submitted before the deadline for applications.