Anti-science strategies 23-PPG-24Z13

The following issues will be discussed during the course:
History and contemporary processes of popularizing science;
Anti-scientific strategies and the sources of the attitudes of their creators;
Historical and cultural sources of anti-scientific movements;
Myths about science and their social significance;
Social significance of anti-scientific movements.

Module learning aims

To familiarize students with the processes of disseminating science. Presenting a panorama of anti-scientific behavior. To familiarize students with anti-scientific strategies from political, ideological, business, health, etc. perspectives. Showing the relationships between scientific communities and anti-scientific movements and their social consequences. To familiarize students with social myths about science and their social significance.

Information on where to find course materials

University library, websites of journals containing necessary articles.

Major

University-wide classes.

Methods of teaching for learning outcomes achievement

Conversational lecture, Problem-solving lecture, Discussion.

Student workload (ECTS credits)

Seminar - 30 hrs. Preparation for classes -20 hrs. Reading the indicated literature - 20 hrs. Preparation of written work -20 hours. Total student workload - 90 hrs Number of ECTS points - 3

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences

No prerequisites.

Course coordinators

Jaromir Jeszke
Beata Anna Polak
Tomasz Polak

Learning outcomes

The student:
perceives the processes of popularizing science in terms of intercultural communication;
knows anti-scientific strategies and understands the sources of the attitudes of their creators;
understands the cultural sources of myths about science;
understands the social context of the popularity of anti-scientific attitudes;
is able to recognize anti-scientific strategies in public debates;
understands the social consequences of anti-scientific attitudes.

Assessment criteria

Oral presentation. The condition for passing the course is an essay on a selected area of anti-science.

Practical placement

They are not provided.

Bibliography

R. N. Proctor, L. Schiebinger (red.) „Agnotology. The making & unmaking of ignorance”, Stanford University Press, 1. California, 2008.
B. A. Polak, Strategie i mechanizmy obronne w dyskursie na temat szczepień. Analiza dyskusji w mediach 2. społecznościowych, "Nauka Polska. Jej Potrzeby, Organizacja i Rozwój", 2020, t. XXIX (LIV), s. 47-62.
J. Jeszke, Rola mitów o nauce w debacie społecznej, „Rocznik Antropologii Historii”, t. 11, 2018, s. 75–91.
A. W. Nowak, K. Abriszewski, M. Wróblewski, Czyje lęki? Czyja nauka? Struktury wiedzy wobec kontrowersji naukowo-1. społecznych, Poznań 2016.

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 23-PPG-24Z13 in USOSweb