PINS9100 Philosophy of Science in Sustainability Course description

The course will give the PhD candidates an ontological and epistemological basis for sustainability studies. Sustainability studies is a field devoted to studying - and ultimately transforming - the ways in which human societies interact with and depend upon the natural environment. It is now a vast field of research, concerning many disciplines and diverse areas of production, both material and immaterial. The aim of the course 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 the underlying discourses, structures, values and norms that shape how sustainability is understood and acted upon. This includes inquiries into the dynamics and logics of various sustainability approaches and discourses, including their limitations and potentials, and the wider implications for both science and practical decision making. It also includes the role of transformation and social change, and the roles that sustainability science could play in their promotion. The syllabus may be abbreviated and adapted to fit the interest of the participants of the course in cooperation with the supervisors.

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 depth knowledge of philosophy of science applied in sustainability studies
• has in depth understanding of the normative and structural positions and implications of various ontological and epistemological perspectives in the philosophy of science of sustainability

Skills

The candidate:

• can integrate philosophy of science in research tasks and reflect on own research project
• can discuss different ontological and 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 discourses, norms, vlaues, 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 normativity and values in sustainability studies
• can identify and discuss the meanings and uses of concepts and definitions relating to sustainability as a discursive field that dictate action and charter directions for change

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 writing a reflection note.

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 of a 'glossary of sustainability' decided in collaboration with the course lecturer.
• A prepared opposition to at least one other presentation.
• 80 % attendance is required.

Individual glossary (4000-5000 words). The glossary will discuss relevant terms that relate to the understandings and meanings of sustainability in the candidate’s PhD project. Cover page, illustrations, and list of references come in addition.

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

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

Assessment is pass/ fail.

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.

Cecilie Sachs Olsen