This course is a part of HF's PhD week.
The course addresses key issues in the theories of knowledge and invites PhD candidates to engage in conversations across disciplinary boundaries. The purpose is to strengthen candidates’ basis for discussing and reflecting on their own practices of knowledge-production and those of their peers.
In plenary and groups, we will discuss what knowledge is, what kind of knowledge scholars in the humanities establish, and whether we share a joint theoretical foundation despite being influenced by impulses from many fields and academic traditions. We will also discuss in what ways knowledge-production in the humanities matter, and to what/whom, including its relevance for contemporary societal processes to which scholars are expected to contribute.
This is a 1 ECTS course.
Course preparations
Reading: Course participants will read about 100 pages of required readings and supplement this with about 100 pages of their own choice. You will also read the essays by participants in the same groups as yourself.
Writing: Participants will write two texts that will form the basis for group work and plenary discussions in the course. The two texts, with references and bibliography, should be uploaded to the digital learning platform for the course at 27th May at the latest.
1. Reflection note: The brief reflection note (1 page) should discuss an issue in the theories of knowledge in the humanities that you find particularly important for your own research project or for yourself as a scholar. The reflection note is expected to respond explicitly to one or a set of propositions in the course literature.
Examples of issues frequently addressed in the reflection notes are:
- What is the meaning and significance of context for knowledge in my field?
- On the nature and status of disciplines in the humanities.
- What are the characteristic objects of knowledge in my discipline?
- If knowledge is not the (only) aim, then what (else) is the humanities for?
- On the relations between quantitative and qualitative inquiry.
- Is knowledge in my discipline cumulative and progressive?
- What is the significance of objectivity, and how is that value integrated in my work?
- In what sense, and to what extent, might inquiry in the humanities be autonomous from other fields of knowledge?
- What is the significance of post-humanism for the humanities?
- On the social relevance of the humanities
2. Essay: A brief essay (1 - 1 1/2 page) discussing in what ways your project’s contributions to knowledge matter and is relevant for contemporary society. We encourage you focus on significance and relevance beyond a specialist field of research.
In class
Your reflections will be the starting points for our discussions — in groups and plenary. Everyone is expected to have read all texts submitted by the other course participants in the groups they work. Groups are published in the digital learning platform two days before the course at the latest.
Professors Bjørn Ramberg and Ellen Krefting will facilitate the discussions. Hanne Hagtvedt Vik will also be involved.
Language
The course language is English, including reading responses and essays.
Required readings
List of required readings (pdf) will be published in early March.
Registration
THE COURSE IS NOW FULLY BOOKED. If you are a candidate at the Faculty of Humanities and have not yet registered, you may contact course convener Hanne Hagtvedt Vik.
Candidates admitted to the PhD programme at the Faculty of Humanities at UiO are given priority.
Course Convenors
Professor Bjørn Ramberg, IFIKK
Professor Ellen Krefting, IFIKK
Professor Hanne Hagtvedt Vik, IAKH/Head of researcher training at HF
Administrative contact: Hanne Hagtvedt Vik
Organizer
Faculty of Humanities