General Methodology of Science WF-FI-N112-OMN
The philosophy of science is a philosophical discipline that analyses science and its methodology, as well as their place in a broader historical and social context. During the lecture, we will explore the basic issues and concepts of the philosophy of science, as well as their development throughout history. We will pay particular attention to how cultural and social changes and developments in the natural sciences have influenced the philosophical understanding of science and its methods.
The lecture is divided into three parts. In the first part, we will present the basics of scientific methodology to enable students to freely use specialist terminology. The second part is devoted to classical philosophy of science – we will discuss the main concepts of proper scientific work and the boundaries between science and pseudoscience. In the third part, we will focus on the ‘new wave’ of philosophy of science, which treats science as a cultural activity and seeks to understand its specific historical development.
The aim of the lecture is to familiarise students with the full spectrum of philosophical reflections on science, from methodology, through metatheoretical issues, to the historical and philosophical context of the development of science.
The exercises extend and supplement the topics covered in the lecture. They consist of discussions of designated texts and other materials related to the philosophy of science and research methodology. During the classes, students formulate and jointly analyse key issues related to theory and methodological practice.
The aim of the exercises is to familiarise students with the most important issues in the philosophy of science, including the specifics of the philosophy of natural science, and to develop their ability to independently analyse scientific texts, summarise authors' positions and formulate their own conclusions and assessments. Students will learn to analyse texts by the most important philosophers of science on how to treat old scientific theories and the general approach to the history of science, as well as to interpret arguments and positions in a broader philosophical and methodological context.
The course aims to stimulate interest in the critical reading of philosophical and scientific texts and to develop the competences necessary for methodological reflection.
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Term 2025/26_Z:
The lectures provide a presentation of the basic issues and concepts in the philosophy of science and present them in a broader historical context. Discussing these issues in a historical context will allow students to understand how philosophical reflection on science and scientific methodology has developed. It will also allow them to indicate how philosophers concerned with scientific methodology have been influenced by cultural and social changes, as well as changes in natural science itself. In order to facilitate students' understanding of the topics discussed, the lecture has been divided into three parts. The first part will deal with the discussion and presentation of the basics of the methodology of science, so that students can use its terminology freely and with understanding. Mastering the knowledge from the first part will be the starting point for the second part, which will present in chronological order the main concepts of classical philosophy of science, focusing on defining the methods of correct scientific work and creating a demarcation line separating science from pseudoscience. The third part of the lecture will present the concepts of the ‘new wave’ philosophy of science, which focuses on science as a specific cultural activity and tries to understand the specifics of its historical development. In the course of the lectures, students will be introduced to a full cross-section of issues related to the philosophical reflection on science, ranging from methodology to meta-scientific issues to reflections on the history and philosophy of science. During the exercises, students will read and discuss articles on selected problems and issues in contemporary philosophy of science. |
Term 2026/27_Z:
The lectures provide a presentation of the basic issues and concepts in the philosophy of science and present them in a broader historical context. Discussing these issues in a historical context will allow students to understand how philosophical reflection on science and scientific methodology has developed. It will also allow them to indicate how philosophers concerned with scientific methodology have been influenced by cultural and social changes, as well as changes in natural science itself. In order to facilitate students' understanding of the topics discussed, the lecture has been divided into three parts. The first part will deal with the discussion and presentation of the basics of the methodology of science, so that students can use its terminology freely and with understanding. Mastering the knowledge from the first part will be the starting point for the second part, which will present in chronological order the main concepts of classical philosophy of science, focusing on defining the methods of correct scientific work and creating a demarcation line separating science from pseudoscience. The third part of the lecture will present the concepts of the ‘new wave’ philosophy of science, which focuses on science as a specific cultural activity and tries to understand the specifics of its historical development. In the course of the lectures, students will be introduced to a full cross-section of issues related to the philosophical reflection on science, ranging from methodology to meta-scientific issues to reflections on the history and philosophy of science. During the exercises, students will read and discuss articles on selected problems and issues in contemporary philosophy of science. |
(in Polish) E-Learning
(in Polish) Grupa przedmiotów ogólnouczenianych
Course coordinators
Term 2022/23_L: | Term 2021/22_L: | Term 2023/24_L: | Term 2024/25_Z: | Term 2026/27_Z: | Term 2025/26_Z: |
(in Polish) Opis nakładu pracy studenta w ECTS
Term 2025/26_Z: (in Polish) Kontakt z prowadzącym - bezpośredni - 2 ECTS
*udział w wykładzie: 30 godz.
*udział w konsultacjach : 15 godz.
*udział w zaliczeniach poza zajęciami : 2 godz.
Kontakt z prowadzącym - pośredni - 1 ECTS
*przygotowanie do zaliczenia: 20 godz.
*przygotowanie do wykładów, czytanie tekstów: 10 godz.
| Term 2026/27_Z: (in Polish) Kontakt bezpośredni z prowadzącym: 1 ECTS
*udział w zajęciach: 30 godz.
*udział w zaliczeniach poza zajęciami: 1 godz.
Kontakt pośredni z prowadzącym: 2 ECTS
*przygotowanie do zajęć : 15 godz.
*przygotowanie do zaliczenia: 30 godz.
Ćwiczenia:
Kontakt bezpośredni z prowadzącym: 1 ECTS
*udział w zajęciach: 15 godz.
*udział w zaliczeniach poza zajęciami: 1 godz.
Kontakt pośredni z prowadzącym: 1 ECTS
*przygotowanie do zajęć (zbieranie materiałów; lektura; analiza treści): 10 godz.
*przygotowanie do zaliczenia (lektura; przygotowanie prezentacji): 20 godz.
ECTS [1 ECTS = 30(25) godz.]:
suma godzin: 150 [150/30(25)=5]
liczba ECTS: 5 |
Subject level
Learning outcome code/codes
Type of subject
Learning outcomes
Graduate… (knows and understands / is able to / is ready to)
FI1_W02: presents historical and contemporary models of the relationship between science and society, analyzing the functioning of norms regulating scientific institutions (e.g., the university, research grants).
FI1_W10: explains the differences and connections between scientific, philosophical, and everyday cognition, indicating the specificity of scientific methods and their philosophical foundations.
FI1_U06: formulates a philosophical problem concerning science (e.g., the limits of falsification, the status of scientific theory, the problem…).
FI1_U09: under the supervision of the instructor, prepares and presents the structure of a mini-research project (e.g., logical justification of a hypothesis, methodological framework of the study).
FI1_U02: reads and interprets passages from classical methodological texts (e.g., Popper, Kuhn, Feyerabend), correctly applying the terminology (e.g., falsification, paradigm, normal science).
FI1_K04: applies the principles of intellectual honesty in working with both others’ and own texts, identifies cases of unethical behavior in science, and analyzes their consequences.
Methods of verification of learning outcomes:
Class discussion; oral exam
Text analysis, group project
Assessment criteria
Lecture
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO THE EXAM:
Attendance — a maximum of 2 absences is allowed (more = no admission)
Passing the classes in General Methodology of Science
The final grade consists of:
1. Participation in discussions and preparation of questions
Possibility of increasing the final score by 0.5 points
The student formulates 5 problem-oriented questions during the semester.
Question assessment criteria:
The question relates to the discussed topic in the philosophy of science.
The question demonstrates understanding of the issue or raises a substantive concern.
The question is formulated clearly and precisely.
Questions may be submitted:
Orally during the lecture (recorded by the instructor)
In writing via the platform/email before class
During office hours/consultations (with a record kept)
2. Oral exam – maximum 3 points
Format: Oral examination (20–25 minutes)
The student draws 3 questions from a pool covering all lecture topics.
Exam assessment criteria (0–3 point scale)
1 point – SATISFACTORY
The student knows the basic concepts and theories discussed in the course and can refer to selected issues, but cannot relate them to the historical context or to the thinkers who addressed them.
Answers are fragmentary and lack synthesis.
1.5 points – SATISFACTORY PLUS
The student correctly identifies and discusses some problems in the philosophy of science in connection with selected historical examples, although interpretations are partial.
The student can discuss selected positions but has difficulty comparing them.
2 points – GOOD
The student can identify and explain the connections between problems in the philosophy of science and scientific methodology.
Correctly interprets the discussed issues and relates them to their historical context.
Effectively compares different positions (e.g., Popper vs. Kuhn).
2.5 points – GOOD PLUS
The student has a good understanding of issues in the philosophy of science.
Correctly places topics within their historical and methodological context.
Can formulate coherent and well-justified positions.
Demonstrates an understanding of the evolution of philosophical thought about science.
3 points – VERY GOOD
The student demonstrates a very good command of philosophy of science topics.
Skillfully combines philosophical analysis with historical context.
Critically discusses issues and precisely justifies their own position.
Shows a deep understanding of debates and their implications.
Tutorials / Practical Classes
CONDITION FOR PASSING THE COURSE
Attendance: a maximum of 2 absences is allowed (more than 2 = failure to pass)
Presentation and discussion of a classical text in the philosophy of science
Presentation structure
Historical and biographical context of the author (2 min)
Main theses and arguments of the text (5–7 min)
Key concepts and their definitions (2–3 min)
Significance for the philosophy of science and contemporary implications (2–3 min)
Discussion questions (2 min)
Duration: 15-minute presentation + 5-minute discussion
1. Participation in discussions on texts
Possibility of increasing the final score by 0.5 points
Format:
Regular participation in class discussions (7 discussion sessions)
Each session consists of text analysis and problem-oriented discussion
2. Group project – methodological mini-project
Format: Groups of 3–4 students prepare a small research project in the field of scientific methodology.
Project components
Project plan and division of roles (consultation with the instructor in the middle of the semester)
Group presentation (20–25 minutes, January)
Project assessment criteria
Application of concepts and theories from philosophy of science (30%)
Quality of methodological analysis (30%)
Originality and depth (20%)
Teamwork and presentation quality (20%)
Grading scale
5.0 (Excellent): fully correct project (100%)
4.5: accuracy > 90%
4.0: accuracy 80–90%
3.5: accuracy 70–80%
3.0: accuracy 60–70%
2.0 (Fail): below 60% or no submission/presentation.
Bibliography
Required reading
1. Sady, W. (2000). Spór o racjonalność naukową [The dispute over scientific rationality], Wrocław: Wydawnictwo Funna.
2. Such, J., Szcześniak, M. (2000) Filozofia nauki [Philosophy of science], Poznań: Wydawnictwo naukowe UAM.
Supplementary reading
1. Psillos, S., Curd, M. (eds.) (2013). The Routledge Companion to Philosophy of Science, London; New York: Routledge.
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Term 2025/26_Z:
Sady W., Spór o racjonalność naukową, Wydawnictwo UMK, 2013 Additional literature |
Term 2026/27_Z:
Sady W., Spór o racjonalność naukową, Wydawnictwo UMK, 2013 Additional literature |
Additional information
Information on level of this course, year of study and semester when the course unit is delivered, types and amount of class hours - can be found in course structure diagrams of apropriate study programmes. This course is related to the following study programmes:
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: