Philosophy of the Cultural Sciences, 7.5 ECTS

The Department of Philosophy offers this course in the autumn semester 2025 as part of the Doctoral School in the Humanities. The course is offered on campus.

Course content

The aim of the course is to provide an opportunity for reflection on methodological and philosophical aspects of research in the humanities. Students are expected to present their projects in class, from a methodological perspective, and the course content will to some extent be tailored to the specific interests of the group.

The course begins with general questions about science and scientific method, with special emphasis on the humanities and the social sciences. Central questions concern the concepts of knowledge, justification and truth; the similarities and differences between different kinds of sciences; what distinguishes scientific knowledge from other forms of knowledge; the concepts of explanation and understanding and their importance; the distinction between qualitative and quantitative methods; conceptual frameworks and relativism. The notions of meaning and interpretation are treated at length, with emphasis on the differences and similarities between different kinds of meaning and interpretation.

Learning outcomes

In order to pass the course, students are expected to be able to:

show a good understanding of fundamental concepts in the philosophy of the cultural sciences, and be able to relate them to their own research
reason about questions concerning the epistemological, methodological and conceptual status of different kinds of research, with specific regards to one’s own discipline

Previous experience

What has been most positive about the course?

"The class discussions were highly engaging and it felt like a really safe space for everyone to voice their opinions no matter the level of philosophical understanding each one of us had."
"The most positive aspects were the teacher, the diversity of PhD students in terms of study subjects, and that the course had and will have a real impact in my dissertation."
"I think it was very good to be able to discuss these philosophical concepts in relation to our own research."
"The amount and level of feedback was outstanding!"
"The teacher has a good grasp of different disciplines and therefore can connect the concept to concrete examples."
"Sharing opinions with PhD students from other universities and departments, especially from different fields was helpful."
"This has been one of the best courses during my PhD."

Would you recommend the course?

Autumn 2024
"I would recommend it as it was rather rewarding. The way texts and concepts were approached were pedagogically and informative. The course felt well balanced through the sessions and James reading guide was beneficial for triggering understanding of the readings that became supplementary to the in class discussions."
"Especially in our discipline, theoretical approaches have been changing over time and vary depending on the paradigm applied. Sometimes, understanding the discussion requires a comprehensive grasp of the human sciences or philosophical questions. Taking this course could be beneficial for students as it helps them understand why a particular approach or theory emerged during specific time periods and how it has evolved over time."
"I highly recommend this course to everyone I talk to. I still think it works as an introductory course, but also recommend them to take it a little later in the process in order to be more well-read and make reflections on the own work."

Last time the course was offered: Autumn 2024

Practical information

Mandatory elements

Participation in the seminars is mandatory.

Examination

Apart from participation, the examination comprises two oral presentation and two written assignments.

Instruction

The course comprises ten three-hour seminars.

NB. The course is offered on campus only.

Period: Autumn semester 2025

Course dates: The course is given the first part of the semester, starting in September, Tuesdays at 10.00 - 13.00.

Language of instruction

: English

Course syllabus: Course Syllabus FI1001F pdf, 431.6 kB.

Apply to the course

Application

Applications for courses starting in the autumn semester 2025 are received between May 15 and June 15, 2025. Notifications of acceptance are sent out as soon as possible after the final date.

All applications are sent by the supervisor to: doctoralschool@hum.su.se. Official transcript of records, or certificate of registration, verifying the applicant's status as doctoral student should be enclosed with the application.

All courses are free of charge, and they are open to all who are admitted to studies on PhD-level, regardless of faculty or university. Prerequisites and special admittance requirements may apply for some courses.

How do I apply?

The application form (document link below) is used to apply for a place in a course. The supervisor (or equivalent) must support the doctoral student’s application with a motivation as to why the doctoral student should participate in the course. The supervisor also submits the proposal to the following address: doctoralschool@hum.su.se.

Application form for place in a joint faculty course docx, 294.6 kB.

Who can apply?

The Faculty of Humanities’ doctoral students have priority for places, and external doctoral students (from Stockholm University or another university) can be admitted to a course subject to availability. External doctoral students will be registered in Ladok in order to enable the Board to monitor all participants in a course.

Last updated: 2025-12-09

Source: Faculty of Humanities