Understanding Human Behaviour: Fundamental Issues in the Social Sciences

Dozent/in	Dr. des. Willem Edward Church
Veranstaltungsart	Hauptseminar
Code	HS241381
Semester	Herbstsemester 2024
Durchführender Fachbereich	Ethnologie
Studienstufe	Bachelor Master
Termin/e	wöchentlich (Mo), ab 16.09.2024, 16:15 - 18:00 Uhr, 4.B51
Umfang	2 Semesterwochenstunden
Turnus	wöchentlich
Inhalt	In a time when the complexity of human societies and cultures transcends traditional disciplinary boundaries, understanding the foundational debates of the social sciences is crucial for anthropologists and social scientists of all stripes. Furthermore, globalization and the 'deterritorialization of cultures' has produced multi-cultural cities and suburbs worldwide, which, in turn, have posed questions to governments no less than to the social sciences, questions that make the politics of interpretation highly salient. The course “Understanding Human Behaviour: Fundamental Issues in the Social Sciences” is designed to explore the core theoretical issues inherent to studying human behaviour. In doing so, the course provides students with a map of the key debates in the history of the social sciences, addressing questions like: How can we define objectivity in social science, and is it achievable or desirable? What does claiming that a social phenomenon is "socially constructed" mean? To what extent can social phenomena be explained by reducing them to their individual parts? Can we apply quantitative methods and models to human behaviour in the same way we might in the natural sciences? It will also speak to central dilemmas in anthropology, such as  “the crisis of representation” and the challenges of conducting research in the face of cultural differences. These questions are steeped in debate and controversy, and the course will not provide definitive answers. However, by the end of this course, students will be better equipped to navigate this landscape, able to critically evaluate the distinct theoretical positions offered for understanding human behaviour and societal change. This course is designed for advanced undergraduates and master’s students but also welcomes newcomers wishing for a broader context for their particular disciplinary or interdisciplinary studies.
Sprache	Englisch
Anmeldung	***Wichtig*** Um Credits zu erwerben ist die Anmeldung zur Lehrveranstaltung über das UniPortal zwingend erforderlich. Die Anmeldung ist ab zwei Wochen vor bis zwei Wochen nach Beginn des Semesters möglich. An- und Abmeldungen sind nach diesem Zeitraum nicht mehr möglich. Die genauen Anmeldedaten finden Sie hier: www.unilu.ch/ksf/semesterdaten
Abschlussform / Credits	Aktive Teilnahme / 4 Credits
Hörer-/innen	Ja
Kontakt	willem.church@gmail.com
Literatur	Risjord, M., 2023. Philosophy of Social Science: A Contemporary Introduction (2nd Edition). Routledge;  Rosenberg, A., 2012. Philosophy of Social Science. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.