Philosophy of the Cultural Sciences, 7.5 ECTS

The primary purpose of this course is to provide participants the opportunity to reflect on big picture methodological questions, answers to which help form the foundation of, and demarcate, their respective disciplines. By the end of the course, participants should:

Content

• be familiar with (some of) the core philosophical assumptions and discussions that underpin the methodological perspectives of various academic disciplines;
• understand how these perspectives help position their own disciplines within the academy, and more generally; and
• have reflected on the philosophical underpinnings of their own research methodologies.

Philosophical Skills

• engage in respectful philosophical discussion;
• be able to read and understand complex philosophical texts;
• be able to examine methodological choices from an abstract philosophical point of view;
• be able to reconstruct, and challenge, sophisticated arguments; and
• write philosophically on a topic in the philosophy of the cultural sciences.

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?

• "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 2025

Mandatory elements

Mandatory elements are:

• active participation in seminars
• submission of two individual short written assignments
• two group oral presentation

Examination:

The course is examined through written assignments and an oral presentation.

Instruction:

The teaching is given in the form of sessions that combine lectures and seminars, where the doctoral students are expected to participate actively.

NB. The course is offered on campus only.

Period:

Autumn semester 2026

Course dates:

Course period: September–November 2026

Course meetings: 10 meetings, usually on Tuesdays 10.00-13.00.

Preliminary schedule. Detailed schedule will be published closer to the start of the course.

Language of instruction:

English

Litterature:

Philosophy of the Cultural Sciences Litterature list HT26 pdf, 205 kB.

Course syllabus: Course Syllabus FI1001F pdf, 431.6 kB.

Application

Applications for courses starting in the autumn semester 2026 are received between May 15 and June 30, 2026. 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.

The course is offered by the Department of Philosophy, and the course coordinator is James Nguyen.

Research officer: Mikael Kalm, Fil. dr

forskarskolan@hum.su.se

Mikael Kalm