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2022/2023

Epistemology

Code: 100311 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2500246 Philosophy OB 2 2

Contact

Name:
Olga Fernandez Prat
Email:
olga.fernandez@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Other comments on languages

Algun dels textos obligatoris estan escrits en aquesta llengüa.

Prerequisites

None.

Objectives and Contextualisation

Epistemology is that branch of philosophy which is concerned with issues about the nature and extent of what we know. In this course, we will explore a number of its central questions: What is it, exactly, to know something?  Why, if at all, should we value knowledge? How should we respond to skeptical arguments? Which are the obstacles that prevent us from knowledge?

Competences

  • Act within one's own area of knowledge, evaluating sex/gender-based inequalities.
  • Analysing and summarising the main arguments of fundamental texts of philosophy in its various disciplines.
  • Placing the most representative philosophical ideas and arguments of a period in their historical background and relating the most important authors of each period of any philosophical discipline.
  • Recognising and interpreting topics and problems of philosophy in its various disciplines.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
  • Thinking in a critical and independent manner on the basis of the specific topics, debates and problems of philosophy, both historically and conceptually.
  • Using the symbology and procedures of the formal sciences in the analysis and building of arguments.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Ability to maintain an appropriate conversation.
  2. Analyse the sustainability indicators of the academic and professional activities in this field, integrating the social, economic and environmental dimensions.
  3. Autonomously searching, selecting and processing information both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, specialized magazines) and from across the network.
  4. Carrying out a planning for the development of a subject-related work.
  5. Carrying out oral presentations using an appropriate academic vocabulary and style.
  6. Correctly, accurately and clearly communicating the acquired philosophical knowledge in oral and written form.
  7. Demonstrating a personal stance over a problem or controversy of philosophical nature, or a work of philosophical research.
  8. Distinguishing and outlining the fundamental content of a philosophical text.
  9. Documenting a philosophical issue and contrasting its sources.
  10. Effectively communicating and applying the argumentative and textual processes to formal and scientific texts.
  11. Engaging in debates about philosophical issues respecting the other participants' opinions.
  12. Expressing both orally and in written form, the issues and basic problems of the philosophical tradition.
  13. Formulating arguments for and against an issue, using proper vocabulary, conceptual precision and argumentative coherence.
  14. Identifying the main ideas of a related text and drawing a diagram.
  15. Leading working groups, overseeing collective tasks and working with commitment in order to bring together various positions.
  16. Reading basic philosophical text thoroughly.
  17. Recognise and define the common thinking present in a multidisciplinary context.
  18. Recognising and using the several forms of reasoning in the history of philosophy.
  19. Relating several ideas of the current philosophical debates.
  20. Relating the various orders of the philosophical ideas of different authors and historical moments.
  21. Solving problems autonomously.
  22. Submitting works in accordance with both individual and small group demands and personal styles.
  23. Summarising the topics and arguments exposed in a classical philosophical debate.
  24. Using specialized knowledge acquired in an interdisciplinary context when debating.
  25. Using suitable terminology when drawing up an academic text.

Content

  1. Clarification of the notion of knowledge: knowledge, opinion and conjecture.
  2. Knowledge and certainty: scepticism.
  3. Theories of justification: fundamentism, coherentism and fiabilism. 
  4. Knowledge and virtue.
  5. Obstacles to knowledge.

Methodology

The directed activities follow the methodology of the learning based on the approach and the resolution of problems. There are two types of activities:

 a) Lectures and discussion of problems related to the subject.

 b) Argumentation practice in the classroom through the programmed readings. The student will have to read texts that will be discussed  in such a way that the main ideas and the internal relations of the text are captured. Participation in class will be encouraged so that the student acquires the assigned competences.

The theoretical and practical classes will alternate throughout the course.

 

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Discussion in class of required readings. 10 0.4 3, 8, 12, 10, 25, 13, 14, 16, 1, 22, 19, 20, 21, 23
Lectures. 45 1.8 3, 12, 10, 25, 13, 14, 16, 1, 21
Type: Supervised      
Preparation of presentations/written papers. 23 0.92 3, 8, 4, 12, 10, 25, 13, 14, 16, 1, 22, 19, 20, 23
Resolution of doubts. 20 0.8 8, 4, 12, 10, 13, 14, 16, 1, 19, 20, 21, 23
Type: Autonomous      
Required and supplementary readings. 30 1.2 3, 8, 4, 25, 14, 16, 19, 20, 21, 23

Assessment

The total score will be based on (i) the score obtained in a test about units 1, 2 and 3 (40% of the final score), (ii) the score obtained in a test about units 3, 4 and 5 (30% of the final score) and (iii) the score obtained in the written exam of the mandatory readings (30%).
Students who do not have scores corresponding to the items (ii) and (iii) of the assessment will be considered as 'No Avaluable' students. 
Students who have not taken one, two or even no tests during the course, can take the re-assessment. The reassessment test will have the same format as the course tests. 
The examination dates and will be announced through the Campus Virtual calendar.
Once the exam test has started, no student can access the classroom to take the exam.
										
											
										
											Exams will only be given on unofficial dates to students who can present supporting documents. Taking a driving test will not be an acceptable reason.
Spell checking will be evaluated. The reiteration of spelling or grammatical errors (minimum four) will give the result of a penalty of 10% of the mark of the test performed.
In the event of a student committing any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade awarded to an assessment activity The student will be given a zero for this activity, regardless of any disciplinary process that may take place. In the event of several irregularities in assessment activities of the same subject, the student will be given a zero as the final grade for this subject.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Test (units 1,2 ,3) 40% 1.5 0.06 3, 8, 9, 4, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23
Test (units 3, 4, 5) 30% 1.5 0.06 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 4, 12, 10, 25, 13, 14, 16, 22, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23
Written exam of mandatory readings. 30% 19 0.76 2, 3, 6, 24, 7, 8, 9, 4, 12, 10, 5, 25, 13, 14, 15, 16, 1, 11, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23

Bibliography

1. Textbooks:

J.BLASCO and T. GRIMALTOS, Introducció a la teoria del coneixement, València: Pretextos, 2ª edició revisada i ampliada en castellà: Publicacions Unviersitat de València, 2004.

D. QUESADA, Saber, opinión y ciencia. Una introducción a la teoría del conocimiento clásica y contemporánea, Barcelona: Ariel, 1998.

2. Consultation.

P. Boghossian, Fear of Knowledge; Against Relativism and Constructivism, Oxford University Press, 2007.

J. Dancy, E. Sosa and J. Turri (eds.), A Companion to Epistemology, Oxford, Blackwell, 1994.

J. Greco and E. Sosa (eds.), The Blackwell Guide to Epistemology, Wiley-Blackwell, 1999.

M. Steup, J. Turri and E. Sosa (eds.), Contemporary Debates in Epistemology, Wiley-Blackwell, 2013.

E. Sosa, Virtue Epistemology, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2007.

3. Web links:

 http://plato.stanford.edu/

Software

It is not necessary.