This course is a part of HF's PhD week.
Course Description
Does research in the humanities aim for truth, or to explore it? Is the value of research a matter of proximity to truth? What, then, are criteria of truth, and how are these reflected in method? If truth is not the (only) aim of research in the humanities but part of our study object, how should we as scholars relate to truth in research in a time labeled “post-truth”? What is the value and legitimacy of history and other disciplines in the humanities, if truth seeking is not what drives our research but to understand how truths in plural operate in present and past cultures?
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 November 13th.
Click here to see the list of readings for this course.
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 history Eirinn Larsen, IAKH and Professor of philosophy Bjørn Torgrim Ramberg, IFIKK will facilitate discussions.
The course language is English, including reading responses and essays. (We may switch to Norwegian in discussions, if everyone is able to follow what is being said.)