Table of contents

The course is connected to the following study programs

Prerequisites

There is a requirement that the PhD candidate should have prerequisite knowledge equivalent to the philosophy of science and methodology courses ME-406 or KF-402 from the master’s programmes in Fine Arts at UiA.

Learning outcomes

After completing this course, the candidates will have basis knowledge of the research historical background of the theories and surveys which can be brought into the work with the thesis, and will be able to give reasons for the scientific status of their own thesis projects from relevant positions within the philosophy of science.

Contents

The course Philosophy of Science places an emphasis upon the theoretical assumptions of scientific work. An overview of various views on science will be given. The strategies of science for the production of knowledge, the interplay between science and society, and the position of the arts within scientific work will be addressed.

The main emphasis will be located in the relationship between philosophy of science in general and arts and cultural knowledge, including music, theatre and visual arts. The tensions and the mutual stimulation between empirical and normative systematic scientific practices on the one hand and performing/creative arts practices on the other will be given particular attention.

The course comprises, moreover, discussions of the problem statement of the thesis and its research questions with regard to philosophy of science, as well as research strategy.

Teaching and learning methods

The course is obligatory. The teaching will be organised in the form of 2-3 gatherings of lectures, seminars, presentations of papers with comments, and practical exercises.

The course can be combined with KF615 Research methods in the arts.

Examinations

Individual philosophy of science theoretical and/or methodological paper with a scope of maximum 12 pages, comprising 2400 characters with spaces, not including references and bibliography. If the paper is assessed as a fail, a reason for this will be provided, as well as advice with regard to making improvements, and a new submission deadline given. The submitted paper will be assessed by the person with course responsibility and an external examiner. Assessed with the grade: pass/fail.

Student evaluation

The person responsible for the course, in consultation with the student representative, decides the method of evaluation and whether the courses will have a midterm- or end of term evaluation, see also the Quality System, section 4.1. Information about evaluation method for the course will be posted on Canvas.
Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 2:04:43 PM