Course: Methods of humanities and social sciences

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Course title Methods of humanities and social sciences
Course code KFHS/B344
Organizational form of instruction Lecture + Seminary
Level of course Bachelor
Year of study 1
Semester Winter
Number of ECTS credits 3
Language of instruction Czech
Status of course Compulsory-optional
Form of instruction Face-to-face
Work placements This is not an internship
Recommended optional programme components None
Lecturer(s)
  • Šimsa Martin, PhDr. Ph.D.
Course content
1. How do we understand humanities and social sciences? Pre-definitions, list of sciences, their classification, summary of methods 2. Genesis of formation of humanities and social sciences, differentiation from natural sciences: Neo-Kantianism and Neo-Hegelianism (Windelband, Rickert, Dilthey) 3. The philosophy of existence, existentialism and their mutual political imprint (Heidegger, Jaspers, Sartre) 4. Hermeneutics of humanities and social sciences - hermeneutics as methods or ontology, critical and transcendental social science (Habermas, Ricoeur, Apel) 5. Sociology of knowledge - (Scheler, Mannheim, Keller) 6. Phenomenology - sociology of everyday life, social construct of reality - (Schütz, Luckmann, Berger) 7. Critical rationalism - logic of scientific discovery, historicism, open society (Popper) 8. Marxist critics and critical theory (Marx, Horkheimer, Adorno, Benjamin, Marcuse) 9. Positivism, logical positivism, empirical positivism, Vienna Circle, non-existence of values of discovery (M. Weber) 10. Wittgenstein I, analytical philosophy, logical analysis of language 11. Philosophy of Ordinary Language (Wittgenstein II), Idea of social sciences (Winch) 12. Theory of speech acts, theory of communicative action - acting by speaking (Austin, Searle, Habermas) 13. Postmodern situation, post-structuralism, deconstruction (Lyotard, Foucault, Derrida) 14. Class discussion

Learning activities and teaching methods
unspecified
Learning outcomes
Familiarization with main methods of humanities and social sciences. Elaboration of mutual relationships between them. Discussion about issues which are connected with methods of humanities and social sciences. Ability of asking questions about advantages and disadvantages of individual methods.
Knowledge of individual methods of humanities and social sciences. Orientation in the use of them. Knowledge of methods of their study. Notion about their advantages and disadvantages.
Prerequisites
None

Assessment methods and criteria
unspecified
1. At least 70% attendance 2. Seminar paper or presentation 3. Class discussion
Recommended literature
  • Apel, Habermas, Rorty a d. Za zrkadlom moderny. Bratislava. 1991.
  • Apel, K. O. Komunikativní společenství jako transcendentální předpoklad sociálních věd. Praha, Filosofický časopis 3/2003. 2003.
  • Berger, P., Luckmann, T. Sociální konstrukce reality. Brno, 1999.
  • Derrida, J. Texty k dekonstrukci. Bratislava, 1993.
  • Gadamer, G. H. Problém dějinného vědomí. Praha, 1997.
  • Gadamer, H. G. Pravda a Metoda I. Praha, 2010.
  • Habermas, J. Strukturální přeměna veřejnosti. Praha, 2000.
  • Habermas, J. Theorie der kommunikativen Handels I-II. Frankfurt a. M. 1988.
  • Habermas, J. Zur Logik der Sozialwissenschaften. Frankfurt a. M., 1995.
  • Husserl, E. Karteziánské meditace. Praha, 1968.
  • Ricoeur, P. Život, pravda, symbol. Praha. 1993.
  • Winch, P. Idea sociální vědy a její vztah k filosofii. Brno, 2004.


Study plans that include the course
Faculty Study plan (Version) Category of Branch/Specialization Recommended year of study Recommended semester