Summary

Evaluate the main positions in a chosen philosophical debate. Develop in your group a solid approach to one or more philosophical problems of that debate. Defend your analysis and conclusions.

Content

Keywords

POLY-perspective :

• interdisciplinary perspective
• citizen perspective

https://www.epfl.ch/schools/cdh/cdhs-vision/

Learning Prerequisites

Required courses

Philosophy of life sciences I (HUM-429a)

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course, the student must be able to:

• Synthesize philosophical problems of a debate.
• Analyze philosophical texts on your own.
• Assess / Evaluate arguments and positions on your own.
• Develop a solid approach to philosophical problems of a debate.
• Assess / Evaluate philosophical arguments and positions together with other people (members of the project group/superviser).
• Critique others (members of the project group/supervisor).
• Defend your analysis and results.
• Generalize particular problems and arguments.

Transversal skills

• Set objectives and design an action plan to reach those objectives.
• Assess progress against the plan, and adapt the plan as appropriate.
• Plan and carry out activities in a way which makes optimal use of available time and other resources.
• Use a work methodology appropriate to the task.
• Communicate effectively, being understood, including across different languages and cultures.
• Give feedback (critique) in an appropriate fashion.
• Negotiate effectively within the group.
• Make an oral presentation.

Teaching methods

Supervision by e-mail and meetings during the spring term.

(More information and the precise schedule are provided at the beginning of the academic year)

Expected student activities

Realisation of the research project according to the schedule that requires notably a critical lecture of articles and books (mostly in English), high level writing skills, working discipline and time management (the official workload of 90h for the SHS program are in fact required for good results).

(More information and the precise schedule are provided at the beginning of the academic year)

Assessment methods

Realisation of the philosophical project according to the schedule and general philosophical standards and presentation of the essay to the other participants of the course.

(More information on philosophical standards and the precise schedule for the spring term are provided at the beginning of the academic year and during supervision of the project)

Supervision