Methods in History and Philosophy of Science 

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Description

The course aims to familiarize students to a diversity of methodological approaches that use history as a resource to advance our understanding of science and of its philosophy. Students will have the opportunity to discuss how these approaches can be implemented in their own research in seminar sessions. The lecture sessions will tackle, in turn: theoretical and practical motivations for work in HPS; the legacy of French Historical Epistemology; the importance of “method discourses” in history and philosophy of science; the challenges and promises of quantitative methods in history of philosophy; the role that reconstructing instruments and experiments from the past may play in understanding scientific practice; and, finally, how the history of a specific technology (in this case, a battery) offers crucial insights into our philosophical understanding of science.

The course is divided into two parts:
Part I: Lectures, presenting different approaches in HPS (History and Philosophy of Science) over six weeks.
Part II: Seminars, allowing students to discuss the application of one or more of these approaches to their own research over four weeks. Students are expected to prepare a 10-minute presentation on their research for one of the seminars; there will be max 4 presentations per seminar.

Please note: The course will follow a hybrid format. However, to encourage in-person attendance, lectures and seminars (Part I and Part II) will take place on the same day. When applicable, a lecture will be held in the morning, followed by a seminar in the afternoon, with an opportunity to share lunch together.

Practical information

Primary target group PhD researchers and ReMA students working in history and/or philosophy of science
If places available also open to Postdocs
Type of activity Seminar
Certificate credit points 4 EC
Organizer Dr. Claudia Cristalli (Tilburg University)
Location
Date March 7 @ 10:30
Venue Tilburg University, Room TBC

Program

This is a tentative program. Some dates may still change – the final program will be determined in late November.

The course is articulated in 2 parts:

  • Classes: Reading and critical discussion of six different approaches to HPS (6 weeks)
  • Seminars: Student presentations on cases/examples of HPS methods (4 weeks)

Friday March 7

  • 10:30-12:00 Class: Theoretical and practical motivations for work in HPS (Fons Dewulf)
  • 13:00-14:30 Seminar: no

Friday March 21

  • 10:30-12:00 Class: French Historical Epistemology (Ties van Gemert)
  • 13:00-14:30 Seminar: yes

Friday April 4

  • 10:30-12:00 Class: Method discourses in HPS (Jutta Schickore)
  • 13:00-14:30 Seminar: yes

Friday April 11

  • 10:30-12:00 Class: Quantitative methods in HPS (Sander Verhaegh, Gregor Bös)
  • 13:00-14:30 Seminar: yes

Friday April 25

  • 10:30-12:00 Class: Reconstructing experiments: theory and practice (Claudia Cristalli)
  • 13:00-14:30 Seminar: yes

Friday May 9

  • 10:30-12:00 Class: The role of H in HPS (Hasok Chang)
  • 13:00-14:30 Seminar: yes

Preparation and assessment

Required readings will be circulated prior to each lecture (where applicable).

Assessment will consist of:

  • class participation (10%);
  • student presentations of their own work (10’ pitch in a seminar, worth 40%);
  • a short reflection piece (2500 words max) connecting one of the topics or methods explored in the lectures to their own research (50%).

Detailed instructions will be made available in class.

Costs and registration

Costs:

  • Free for ReMA students who are a member of the OZSW and/or another research school in the Humanities (LOGOS)
  • Free for PhD candidates who are a member of the OZSW and/or another research school in the Humanites (LOGOS);
  • All others pay a tuition fee of 300 euros.

How to register:

  • OZSW members: make sure you are logged in to the website. After you have successfully registered for the course, it will appear on your ‘profile page’.
  • PhD Candidates and ReMA students may register via the registration button on this website. Please fill out the registration form and wait for a confirmation email. If you do not receive confirmation of your registration, please contact Eva Hendriks at .

The registration deadline is February 17, 2025. If registration has been closed because the maximum amount of participants has been reached, you can submit your name to the waiting list by sending an email to . Please also indicate whether you are a ReMA student or PhD candidate and whether you are a member of the OZSW or not.

The OZSW registration and cancellation policy applies to this activity (to be found here).

Contact information

Name Dr. Claudia Cristalli (Tilburg University)
Email