The ideal of a value-free science can be considered, by now, long abandoned in favour of a more nuanced picture that Philosophy of Science has helped to delineate. We now know that values influence science is many different ways, and this opens up the field to a fascinating line of inquire about the intricate ways in which values can affect scientific results and practices: When is the impact of values pernicious for scientific projects? In what sense is the impact of normative considerations on scientific results inevitable? Why and under what circumstances is the influence of values desirable to the scientific endeavour?

The aim of this course is to discuss each of these questions in relation to case studies both from historical accounts and current examples of scientific practice. We will combine academic philosophy and popular science and see how conceptual analysis has practical implications for science and its public reception and understanding.

If you want to follow this course in English, please do so only if you can read and write it correctly. Otherwise, we will transfer you to the Spanish-speaking version.

María Jiménez Buedo

Tuesday: 11.00-14.00 | 16:00-19:00
Phone: 91 398 96 53 
E-mail: mjbuedo@fsof.uned.es

COMPETENCIAS GENERALES

CG3. Dominar las bases metodológicas y los conocimientos que permitan la integración de los múltiples saberes filosóficos en un proyecto de trabajo personal.

COMPETENCIAS ESPECÍFICAS

CE2. Poseer una familiaridad con la actividad investigadora en filosofía gracias al estudio detallado de obras de autores relevantes, a la interacción con profesores que están desarrollando tareas de investigación propias y con los otros alumnos del Máster en los foros de cada asignatura.

CE5. Aplicar con la soltura necesaria tanto los conocimientos adquiridos como la propia metodología de la reflexión filosófica, a problemas y ámbitos nuevos, dentro y fuera del terreno de la filosofía. Esta competencia es especialmente relevante para los alumnos del Máster que poseen estudios de Licenciatura o de Grado en otras áreas de ciencias, técnicas, o de humanidades (alumnos tradicionalmente numerosos en la Facultad de Filosofía de la UNED).

CE7. Componer un discurso coherente y crítico a partir del análisis objetivo de las diversas propuestas y situaciones procedentes del entorno social, económico y científico, distinguiendo posibles falacias, ambigüedades e incorrecciones en el ámbito del lenguaje, la ciencia y la comunicación interpersonal.

The main goals of this course are as follows. First, you should acquire a basic grasp of the main approaches in applied ethics. Then, you should study a few key concepts in scientific methodology and the social studies of science. Third, you should be able to apply these concepts to the analysis of new case studies. 

The course is organized in several assignments that consist in completing a series of questions at the end of some selected chapters on the main textbook. 

• Kevin Elliott, A Tapestry of Values: An Introduction to Values in Science, Oxford University Press, 2017

These assigments must be handed in monthly.

Additionally, you can write a book review of a book to be chosen in agreement with the instructor. Further instructions about its structure and content will be posted on ALF. An example of a suitable book is: 

• Angela Saini, Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong-and the New Research That's Rewriting the Story, London, Beacon Press, 2018.

You should post your review on a dedicated message board, provide comments on the reviews of at least two of your fellow students and engage in the subsequent discussion. 

The textbook for the first two assignments is:

• Kevin Elliott, A Tapestry of Values: An Introduction to Values in Science, Oxford University Press, 2017

Additionally you should write a review on  an alternative book of your choice on a related topic with the approval of the course' instructor. 

e will post additional resources on ALF.

Additional references may be provided on the course platform. 

The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy provides the best introductions to almost every topic, in open access.