Study programme 2024-2025Français
Introduction to epistemology
Programme component of Bachelor's in Computer Science (MONS) (day schedule) à la Faculty of Science

CodeTypeHead of UE Department’s
contact details
Teacher(s)
US-B3-SCINFO-030-MOptional UESTAQUET AnneS808 - Philosophie et Histoire des Sciences
  • STAQUET Anne

Language
of instruction
Language
of assessment
HT(*) HTPE(*) HTPS(*) HR(*) HD(*) CreditsWeighting Term
  • Français
Français12000011.001st term

AA CodeTeaching Activity (AA) HT(*) HTPE(*) HTPS(*) HR(*) HD(*) Term Weighting
S-PHYS-920Introduction to epistemology120000Q1100.00%

Programme component

Objectives of Programme's Learning Outcomes

  • Understand the fundamentals of computer science
    • Use and combine knowledge from different disciplines to solve multidisciplinary problems
  • Understand the fundamentals related to scientific methods
    • Conduct rigorous reasoning based on scientific arguments
    • Give a critique and argue a point of view regarding multiple-source information and other opinions

Learning Outcomes of UE

The aims of this course are twofold: 1° to introduce students to epistemology, and 2° to draw on epistemological reflections to generate critical tools. In other words, by the end of the course, students will be able to distinguish between science and pseudoscience, understand what distinguishes verifiable information from fake news, understand how our brains can mislead us, and give the basics of scientific reasoning.

UE Content: description and pedagogical relevance

The following points will be explicitly addressed:
    - Introduction: how our brain deceives us.
    - Cognitive biases and manipulation strategies: modus ponens and modus tollens, hasty generalizations and sampling, causes and correlations, syllogisms, connotations, sophisms, expert opinions and arguments of authority.
    - What is a scientific model? Application to the hard sciences. AI and algorithms as an example of a scientific model.
    - True information, fake news and conspiracy: how to verify information?
    - Science and pseudoscience: induction and deduction, hypotheses, confirmation and falsification, false positives and false negatives, double-blind trials, placebo effect; demarcation criteria.

Prior Experience

Not applicable

Type of Teaching Activity/Activities

AAType of Teaching Activity/Activities
S-PHYS-920
  • Cours magistraux

Mode of delivery

AAMode of delivery
S-PHYS-920
  • Face-to-face

Required Learning Resources/Tools

AARequired Learning Resources/Tools
S-PHYS-920Not applicable

Recommended Learning Resources/Tools

AARecommended Learning Resources/Tools
S-PHYS-920Not applicable

Other Recommended Reading

AAOther Recommended Reading
S-PHYS-920Not applicable

Grade Deferrals of AAs from one year to the next

AAGrade Deferrals of AAs from one year to the next
S-PHYS-920Unauthorized

Term 1 Assessment - type

AAType(s) and mode(s) of Q1 assessment
S-PHYS-920
  • Written examination - Face-to-face

Term 1 Assessment - comments

AATerm 1 Assessment - comments
S-PHYS-920Not applicable

Resit Assessment - Term 1 (B1BA1) - type

AAType(s) and mode(s) of Q1 resit assessment (BAB1)
S-PHYS-920
  • N/A - Néant

Resit Assessment - Term 1 (B1BA1) - Comments

AAResit Assessment - Term 1 (BAB1) - Comments
S-PHYS-920Not available

Term 3 Assessment - type

AAType(s) and mode(s) of Q3 assessment
S-PHYS-920
  • Written examination - Face-to-face

Term 3 Assessment - comments

AATerm 3 Assessment - comments
S-PHYS-920Not available
(*) HT : Hours of theory - HTPE : Hours of in-class exercices - HTPS : hours of practical work - HD : HMiscellaneous time - HR : Hours of remedial classes. - Per. (Period), Y=Year, Q1=1st term et Q2=2nd term
Date de dernière mise à jour de la fiche ECTS par l'enseignant : 13/05/2024
Date de dernière génération automatique de la page : 28/06/2025
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Tél: +32 (0)65 373111
Courriel: info.mons@umons.ac.be