Philosophy of Science and Computer Ethics, 4 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Bachelor´s Programme in Statistics and Data Analysis

Entry requirements

Apart from the general entry requirements, admission to the course requires satisfaction of specific entry requirements D.4.1 = MaC + ShA.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should be able to:
- demonstrate knowledge of scientific theoretical problem areas
- compare different scientific theoretical directions
- account for the goals and conditions of the research process
- analyse ethical problems in science, primarily concerning computer ethics, for example problems concerning integrity in data collection or managing of large amounts of data

Course content

The course provides a presentation of scientific theoretical problems and a short orientation of important theories. The following subareas are covered: the emergence and development of scientific tradition; the hypothetico-deductive research model, induction and falsification; the concepts of science, explanation, hypothesis testing and observation; the theories of positivism, the paradigm theory, falsificationism and hermeneutics; an orientation of different research-ethical issues. Within the research-ethical field, computer ethics is primarily studied.

Teaching and working methods

The teaching takes the form of lectures and compulsory seminars.

Examination

The course is examined through a seminar assignment and a written examination.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department