This course is a part of HF's PhD week.
Course content
Researchers and society at large expect research to produce knowledge that is relevant beyond the academy itself. Sometimes researchers are motivated at the outset by quite particular social and political objectives. Or our research may bring us into contexts that trigger political engagement. At the same time, the legitimacy of scholarly knowledge is often assumed to require some form of objectivity, so that scientific scholarship can provide a common ground of knowledge for diverse social and political commitments.
How do we negotiate the relation between social and political aims and values, on the one hand, and the requirements of scholarly values in the production of knowledge, on the other? This is a central issue in debates on scholar activism.
This is a 1 ECTS course.
Course preparations
Course participants will read about 100 pages of mandatory readings and select at least 200 pages of your own choice from the lists of suggested readings. Participants will write a brief (1 page) response-paper where you critically engage with a proposition in one or several of these texts. You will also write a 2-page essay relating themes from the workshop to your own field or research project. The two texts should be uploaded to the digital course site by 14th May.
A link to the syllabus will be posted here in the middle of March.
In class
Your reflections will be the starting points for our discussions—in groups and plenary. Expect an interactive and problem-driven day filled with intellectual engagement with core issues in the theories of humanities. We start with discussing issues arising from your response-papers. After lunch we move on to your reflections centering on your own field or research project.
Professor of philosophy Bjørn Torgrim Ramberg, IFIKK and professor of history Hanne Hagtvedt Vik, IAKH will facilitate the discussions.
Language
The course language is English, including reading responses and essays. We will switch to Norwegian in class if everyone is able to follow what is being said.
Required readings
List of required readings (pdf)
Registration
Courses are open for PhD fellows, completion grant holders, and post-doctoral fellows at the Faculty of Humanities, other UiO faculties and external PhD fellows. Registration opens 8 March at 12 noon and closes 15 March at 12 noon. Priority will be given to PhDs from the Faculty of Humanities, starting with those who have been in the program the longest, then PhDs from other Faculties at UiO, and lastly other applicants. From March 17th, you may register for the course if there are still seats available.
Course conveners
Contact persons: Bjørn Torgrim Ramberg and Hanne Hagtvedt Vik
IFIKK, responsible department
IAKH, contributing department