PHI100 Examen Philosophicum

Credits (ECTS):10

Course responsible:Frode Kjosavik

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Norsk

Course frequency:The course is offered in Norwegian each year in the Autumn parallel. PHI100 and PHI101 have the same lectures.

Nominal workload:250 hours

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in the Autumn parallel. This course has teaching/evaluation in the autumn parallel.

About this course

The course has three parts: (1) History of science and philosophy; (2) Philosophy of science; (3) Ethics. Part 1 concerns central philosophical ideas and theories that are relevant to Part 2 and Part 3. Important issues are the developments that led to present-day natural science, the historical and philosophical roots of different world pictures - like the ecological and the mechanistic ones, as well as the emergence and evolution of bioscience. The significance of philosophical theories for human self-understanding and perspectives on social issues is central. Part 2 deals with topics from the philosophy of science, including what is characteristic of scientific knowledge and scientific methods; what sets different scientific disciplines apart from each other; and what is the basis for interdisciplinary cooperation in approaches to complex problems in science and in society - as in climate research and research on sustainability. Part 3 provides an introduction to basic forms of ethical argumentation, and the application of such reasoning to pressing moral issues, including collisions of cultures, equality, the status of animals, nature management and sustainability. The importance that is accorded to natural science and environmental ethics is anchored in the science and value profile of the Norwegian University of Life Sciences.

Learning outcome

To gain knowledge of central aspects of science and ethics, their historical background and their social impact and significance; to improve the understanding of scientific justification, of the relations between the sciences and of the relations between science, society and nature; to produce critical awareness pertaining to value issues related to research and its application; to form skills and master general tools for analysis of concrete cases in science and ethics; to build competence in argumentation and critical reflection, both in general and within the framework of one’s own discipline.
  • Lectures and problem-solving course are given on campus. The lectures are also being streamed. In the problem-solving course, the student is presented with cases, and it prepares the students for the exam.
  • Problem-solving course with discussion.
  • Final written in-class examination (3,5 hours) accounts for 100 % of the grade.
  • External examiner.
  • The course is equivalent to Examen Philosophicum at other universities in Norway. It is offered in Norwegian in the autumn parallel every year. Examen philosophicum - English option (PHI102) is offered annually (spring semester).
  • Autumn parallel: 2 x 2 hours of lectures per week (for the whole semester) + 2 hours of exercises per week.
  • 10 ECTS credits overlap with PHI101 and PHI102.
  • Letter grades
  • Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse).