Christoph Johannes Baumberger: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2016

Name	Dr. Christoph Johannes Baumberger
Address	Lehre Umweltsystemwissenschaften ETH Zürich, CHN H 73.1 Universitätstrasse 16 8092 Zürich SWITZERLAND
Telephone	+41 44 632 50 54
E-mail	christoph.baumberger@usys.ethz.ch
Department	Environmental Systems Science
Relationship	Lecturer

Number	Title	ECTS	Hours	Lecturers
701-0701-00L	Philosophy of Science	3 credits	2V	G. Hirsch Hadorn, C. J. Baumberger
Abstract	The lecture explores various strands in philosophy of science in a critical way, focusing on the notion of rationality in science, especially with regards to environmental research. It addresses the significance and limits of empirical, mathematical and logical methods, as well as problems and ethical issues raised by the use of science in society.
Learning objective	Students learn to engage with problems in the philosophy of science and to relate them to natural and environmental sciences, thus developing their skills in critical thinking about science and its use. They know the most important positions in philosophy of science and the objections they face. They can identify, structure and discuss issues raised by the use of science in society.
Content	1. Core differences between classical Greek and modern conceptions of science. 2. Classic positions in the philosophy of science in the 20th century: logical empiricism and critical rationalism (Popper); the analysis of scientific concepts and explanations. 3. Objections to logical empiricism and critical rationalism, and further developments: What is the difference between the natural sciences, the social sciences and the arts and humanities? What is progress in science (Kuhn, Fleck, Feyerabend)? Is scientific knowledge relativistic? What is the role of experiments and computer simulations? 4. Issues raised by the use of science in society: The relation between basic and applied research; inter- and transdisciplinarity; ethics and accountability of science.
Lecture notes	A reader will be available for students.
Literature	A list of introductory literature and handbooks will be distributed to the students.
Prerequisites / Notice	Oral examination during the session examination. Further optional exercises accompany the lecture and offer the opportunity for an in-depth discussion of selected texts from the reader. Students receive an additional credit point. They have to sign up separately for the exercises for the course 701-0701-01 U.
701-0701-01L	Philosophy of Science: Exercises	1 credit	1U	G. Hirsch Hadorn, C. J. Baumberger
Abstract	The exercises in philosophy of science serve to develop skills in critical thinking by discussing seminal texts about the rationality of science. Topics discussed include the significance and limits of empirical, mathematical and logical methods, as well as problems and ethical issues raised by the use of science in society.
Learning objective	Students can engage with problems in the philosophy of science and to relate them to natural and environmental sciences. They learn to analyze and summarize philosophical texts. In this way, they develop their skills in critical thinking with a focus on the rationality of science.
Content	The optional exercises accompany the lecture and serve to develop skills in critical thinking with a focus on the rationality of science, based on discussing seminal texts. The texts cover important positions in the philosophy of science and their critics. Topics discussed include the significance and limits of empirical, mathematical and logical methods, as well as problems and ethical issues raised by the use of science in society.
Lecture notes	A reader will be available for students.
Literature	A list of literature will be distributed to the students together with the reader.
Prerequisites / Notice	Students that want to subscribe for this course also have to subscribe for the lecture 701-0701-00 V "Wissenschaftsphilosophie". Credit points are given for preparing a structure and a summary of one of the texts.