This course is part of HF's PhD week.
Course description
Philosophical dissertations---dissertations with a substantial philosophical content---typically focus on providing tight, logically compelling arguments for some conclusions. Crucial components of such dissertations are the logical structure of the key arguments and the conceptual analysis of the main notions involved.
This course is aimed at students, in Philosophy or other disciplines, writing philosophical dissertations. The course has two primary objectives. The first is to help students improve the argumentative structure of their dissertations. The second is to develop an effective and engaging presentation of the main results of the dissertation.
The course uses a practical and collaborative approach to achieve these objectives. Relying on constructive feedback by the lecturer and by peers, students will work on sharpening the structure of their dissertations and on presenting more effectively their key arguments and results.
By improving the argumentative quality and conceptualization of their dissertations, and by practicing with presenting their work, students will also improve, indirectly, their skills to present at professional conferences, perform in job interviews, and apply for grants.
In the context of their dissertation, students will reflect on questions such as the following:
- What are my main conclusions? Why are they significant?
- What are my main arguments? Are they sound?
- Can the argumentative structure of the dissertation be improved?
- Are there areas/themes/topics/results not yet considered that could strengthen my arguments?
- Does the current structure bring out clearly the novelty of my main ideas?
- Can my ideas be “refactored” to highlight their significance?
- How can my results be presented effectively and engagingly to a broad audience?
Interested PhD students in their first year are encouraged to contact the lecturer to discuss whether they have advanced enough to attend the course.
This is a 1 ECTS course
Course preparation
In preparation for the course, there are four main requirements:
- Submit an extended, accessible abstract of the dissertation (no more than 2 pages) together with an accessible summary of two central arguments in the dissertation (no more than 2 pages). This material must be submitted to the lecturer three weeks before the course (i.e. by Wednesday 13 November 2024 at 5pm).
- Agree with the lecturer on a personalized reading list. This will be discussed shortly after submitting the material in (1). The goal of the reading list is to explore themes and topics that might improve the structure of the dissertation and, if possible, bring out its wider significance. The reading list should comprise around 40-50 pages (roughly, two academic articles or book chapters).
- Read material submitted by other participants. This material will be circulated as soon as possible after 13 November.
- Prepare a draft of a brief presentation based on the submitted abstract and summary of arguments.
In class
There will be practical and collaborative activities. The details will depend on the number of students enrolled. In line with the objectives of the course, these activities will help participants (a) improve the argumentative quality and conceptualization of their dissertations, and (b) produce more effective presentations of their work.
Language
The course will be in English.
Registration
Courses are open for PhD fellows, completion grant holders, and post-doctoral fellows at the Faculty of Humanities, other UiO faculties and external PhD fellows. Candidates admitted to the PhD programme at HF are given priority.
Registration opens on October the 1st at noon.
Course convenor
Salvatore Florio, Department of Philosophy, Classics, History of Art and Ideas