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Philosophical Disagreements

This course is designed for postgraduate students (MA and PhD) who seek to strengthen their critical thinking skills and engage with fundamental philosophical concepts from an interdisciplinary perspective. The course is divided into two modules, allowing students to focus on either argumentation and critical thinking or broader philosophical discussions—or both.

The first module (3 ECTS) is dedicated to critical thinking and argumentation, equipping students with the skills to analyze, construct, and critique arguments effectively. Students will learn how to engage with texts and ideas in a way that highlights substantive points while refining their ability to assess both their own and others' reasoning.

The second module (3 ECTS) explores key philosophical and interdisciplinary topics such as objectivity, emotions, belief, and free will. Through these discussions, students will gain insights into the nature of philosophical inquiry, its historical context, and its broader intellectual implications, including implications for different research fields.

About the course

Content

The course includes two modules. The first module focuses on critical thinking and argumentation skills (3 ECTS), the second module introduces the students to various interdisciplinary philosophical topics (3 ECTS). The students can also take only the first module for the value of 3 ECTS.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the argumentation module the student will have:

  • Acquired the fundamentals of argumentation theory and developed the ability to use these in an analysis of an argument.
  • Learnt to represent someone else's text and speech in such a way that the substantial points emerge clearly. The student is able to critically analyse that substantive part.
  • Acquired the basic knowledge of scientific thinking and methodology. The student is able to critically analyse one's own research methodology.

By the end of the philosophical disagreements module the student will have:

  • Understood the particularities of philosophical questions (in relation to the topics covered) and their interdisciplinary aspects and implications.
  • Acquired the capacity to position one's own research into the wider context of the history of ideas.
  • The ability to employ the concepts and theories from the course in the analysis of particular cases.

Teaching format

100% self-learning.
The course consists of pre-recorded online lectures and homework tasks allowing for flexibility in the learning process. There are however, weekly deadlines for homework submission.

E-learning environment: UTARTU Moodle

Programme

Argumentation theory module
Topics to be covered within 7 weeks:
1. Argumentation theory I
2. Argumentation theory II
3. Reconstruction and evaluation of arguments I
4. Reconstruction and evaluation of arguments II
5. Reconstruction and evaluation of arguments II - Gender pay gap
6. Critical thinking in science
7. Inductive risk and values in science
There is weekly homework in each seminar. At the end of the seminars, a final test takes place.

Philosophical disagreements module
Topics to be covered within 7 weeks:
8. Disagreements
9. Believing
10. Emotions
11. Scrutinizing scientific methods
12. Objectivity
13. Free will
14. Self-determination
15. Just war

Assessment

Non-differentiated (pass, fail, not present).

1. Moodle homework - weekly

2. Submit an argumentation analysis -- course week 4

3. Submit a reconstruction of a debate -- course week 5

4. Submit the analysis of the methodological premises of one's own research -- course week 7.

In order to pass, the tests and homework must correspond to the following minimum requirements:

correct formatting, references relevant and sufficient, proper analytical connections and interpretations, logical assessment of the topic. Overall, some weak aspects concerning these criteria are allowed.

Prerequisite for final grade - all homework submitted and accepted as passing.

Lecturers

Kadri Simm (lecturer-in-charge). Co-lecturers: Mats Volberg, Alexander Davies, Endla Lõhikivi, Toomas Lott, Bruno Mölder, Francesco Orsi, Eva Piirimäe, Edit Talpsepp, Ave Mets, Pärtel Piirimäe.

Course dates

This course takes place in the first semester of the academic year 2025-2026.  It starts at the beginning of September. This is a 100% self-learning course with weekly homework deadlines. Info on course schedule will be available as of May 2, 2025. To check  info after May 2, please see HERE and click on the tab “Events”.

 

 

  • Type: virtual course
  • Level: Master, PhD
  • Host: University of Tartu
  • Study Field: Humanities
  • Apply by: 18 August 2025
  • ECTS: 6
  • Number of places available: 20