Advanced Studies in Epistemology
[ LFILO2170 ]
5.0 crédits ECTS
30.0 h
1q
This biannual course is taught on years 2010-2011, 2012-2013, ...
| Teacher(s) |
Feltz Bernard ;
Hunyadi Mark ;
|
| Language |
French
|
Place
of the course |
Louvain-la-Neuve
|
| Main themes |
The course will first present a general framework that posits a connection between "revising belief" and learning. Then, each year, the course will concentrate on a particular theme for epistemological analysis.
Inter-disciplinary breadth will be a criterion for the selection of this theme.
|
| Aims |
Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to :
Identify beliefs that underlie rational construction ;
Construct contradicting arguments intended to question these beliefs;
Draw the likely consequences of such a change in beliefs, with regard to the organization of rational procedures.
|
| Evaluation methods |
End of year oral examination
|
| Content |
In this course we look, for example, at how posthumanism is supposed to have moved on from humanism, or what vision of science and knowledge supports it. If we talk about the convergence of science, should we not also talk about the convergence of ideologies which underpins it? In the NBIC report, which sets out to be clearly prospective, but which only mentions Yes (I was struggling with this as the meaning is pretty opaque!)possibilities that are still purely imaginary and have not been supported empirically, there is convergence between a scientistic optimism which systematically devalues the result of all past techniques, an idyllic futurism where everything will be immediately accessible in a world which henceforth has diluted all resistance, a pragmatism preoccupied only by the achievement of objectives and an unbounded meliorism where everything must be improved, strengthened, increased, made easier ' meliorism guided only by the obsession to do away with the limitations that are imposed on us by human finitude. This, then, is also a central theme as we see in the work of the transhumanist, Nick Bostrom, who, by doing away with mortality, wants to do away with finitude itself.
|
| Other information |
Note : in the second semester, there will be further study of posthumanism in a seminar (LFILO2920) in the framework of 'Advanced ethical issues'. For information: to take the ethics course, it is not necessary to have taken this epistemology course. Fine
|
Cycle et année
d'étude |
> Master [120] in Ethics
> Certificat universitaire en philosophie (approfondissement)
> Master [60] in Philosophy
> Master [120] in Philosophy
|
Faculty or entity
in charge |
> EFIL
|
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