At the end of the course, students will be able to:
- use and reconstruct some fundamental concepts of the philosophy of science and technology (logocentrism, original supplement, the great divide, situated knowledge, associated environment, etc.).
- understand and describe the different conceptions of technology and science covered in the course (technology as an imitation of nature, as an extension of the body, as a discourse on the world; science as representation or intervention, etc.).
- take a critical look at technology and science, i.e. ask ontological, epistemological and anthropological questions about them.
The aim of the course is to provide students with a kit of concepts that can be used to question both old and new sciences, techniques and technologies. The course successively presents three or four "cases", varying from year to year, which have raised philosophical questions (the alphabet, the map, the microscope, the thermometer...). The method of case studies both indicates where the philosophical problems come from and shows their relevance in situ.
See table of contents.
Chapter 1: A new course (on the singularity of the philosophy of science and technology); Chapter 2: Taking the temperature (on the thermometer); Chapter 3: Learning the ABCs (on writing as a technique); Chapter 4: Touching the invisible (on the microscope and the telescope).
Given in class.
Written assignment (a critical review of a work on the philosophy of science and technology) + oral examination (on the work submitted, the material covered in the course and the texts read collectively).
If necessary, possibility to write the assignment and to pass the exam in English.
Chapter 1 : G. Hottois, Philosophies des sciences, philosophies des techniques (Odile Jacob, 2004) ; G. Simondon, Du mode d’existence des objets techniques (Aubier-Montaigne, 1958) ; Chapter 2: H. Chang, Inventing temperature (Oxford, 2004);; Chapter 3 : J. Derrida, De la grammatologie (Minuit, 1967); J. Goody, La raison graphique (Minuit, 1979); M. Foucault, L’archéologie du savoir (Gallimard, 1969); Chapiter 4 : I. Hacking, Anthropologie philosophique et raison scientifique (Vrin, 2023); P. Feyerabend, Contre la méthode (Seuil, 1979); D. Haraway, « Savoirs situés » (chapitre traduit dans Manifest cyborg et autres essais, Exils, 2007).
| Training | Study programme | Block | Credits | Mandatory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Philosophy | Standard | 0 | 3 | |
| Bachelor in Law | Standard | 0 | 3 | |
| Certificat d'université en philosophie | Standard | 0 | 3 | |
| Certificat d'université en philosophie | Standard | 1 | 3 | |
| Bachelor in Philosophy | Standard | 2 | 3 | |
| Bachelor in Law | Standard | 2 | 3 | |
| Bachelor in Law | Standard | 3 | 3 |