Epistemology

Code	11723
Year	2
Semester	S1
ECTS Credits	6
Workload	OT(15H)/TP(45H)
Scientific area	Philosophy
Entry requirements	There are none.
Mode of delivery	face-to-face
Work placements	none
Learning outcomes	• Introduction to main concepts of epistemology • Understanding of the more comprehensive stages of historical-philosophical evolution of epistemology • Demarcation of scientific activity, as well as its scope and limits, from parascience and other cultural manifestations. At the end of the Curricular Unity course, students should be able to: • Basics – Identify general themes and questions of epistemology; • Scientifics – Understand theoretically the nuclear aspects of epistemological debate; • Operational – Bring epistemological context to concrete research topics; • Cross outcomes - Relationship with others, lead and communicate, mobilize resources, seize opportunities to know based on behavioral attitudes active, healthy morally and ethically, exposing themselves to criticism of their peers, respecting them.
Syllabus	I. Introduction . Origins of Epistemology; the evolution of the concept . Relationship between Common Sense and Scientific Knowledge . Science and Requirements of Scientificity: importance of Cartesian epistemology II. Some contemporary epistemological theories . Gaston Bachelard and the French epistemological tradition . The Vienna Circle and logical empiricism . Karl Popper and falsificationism . Thomas Kuhn's notion of the 'paradigm' and its epistemological implications . Imre Lakatos and the scientific research programs III. Some issues in Regional Epistemologies a) Some topics in Epistemology of Social Sciences: . The positive tradition and the naturalization of the social sciences: Comte (the "law of the three stages" and the notion of science); Durkheim (the characteristics of social facts and the "rules of method"); b) Epistemological problems raised by the study of the topic of Consciousness: . The problem of the mind / body. Insufficiencies of the classic alternative "monism / dualism". The intrinsically mental elements. The conscience posed as a challenge to the consolidated hegemony of physicalist monism. Consciousness and qualia. The two mind / body problems. . The programs of Artificial Intelligence (AI): will the digital computer give us the correct image of the human mind? Duplication and reproduction of minds.
Main Bibliography	. Robert Blanché, A Epistemologia, Lisboa, Presença, 1975, pp. 9-36 . Manuel Maria Carrilho, Epistemologia: Posições e Críticas, Lisboa, F.C.Gulbenkian, 1991, (Prefácio) . Gaston Bachelard, A Epistemologia, Lisboa, Edições 70, 1990, pp165-190 . Alberto Pasquinelli, Carnap e o Positivismo Lógico, Lisboa, Edições 70, 1983, pp.39-57 . Karl R. Popper, O Mito do Contexto, Lisboa, Edições 70, 1999, pp.109-142 . Thomas S. Khun, A Estrutura das Revoluções Científicas, S.Paulo, Perspectiva, 2000, pp.125-144 . Imre Lakatos, Falsificação e Metodologia dos Programas de Investigação Científica, Lisboa, Edições 70, 1999, pp.54-85/128-137 . Paul K. Feyerabend, Contra o Método, Lisboa, Relógio D’Água, 1993, pp.29-39/ 194-208/ 291-312 . John R. Searle, Minds, Brains and Science: Mente, Cérebro e Ciência, Trad. de Artur Morão, Lisboa, Edições 70, 1984, pp.11-51.
Language	Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.