SV-159 Feminist Epistemologies

The course is connected to the following study programs

• Gender, power and diversity, One-semester Programme

Teaching language

English

Course contents

This course introduces central terms and debates within feminist epistemology and aims to make epistemology in general more accessible. The course will progress through the historical background of traditional epistemology, the development of critical feminist perspectives, and the relevance of these perspectives to contemporary epistemological debates, philosophy of science, research ethics, and issues of social justice. Student participation in discussions, critical analysis of influential texts, and academic writing will be emphasized.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Offer a written or verbal account of the development of influential feminist critiques of traditional epistemology

• Describe central approaches within feminist epistemology, such as feminist standpoint theory, feminist postmodernism, and feminist empiricism

• Reflect on feminist critiques of the valorization of objectivity, emotional detachment, abstraction, value-neutrality, and control in scientific research

• Be familiar with the roles of epistemic privilege, epistemic authority, and epistemic injustice in the social production, classification, institutionalization, dissemination, and evaluation of knowledge

Examination requirements

The second and third assignments cannot be submitted unless a passing grade has been received on each of the previous assignments. More information will be available in Canvas.

Teaching methods

Lectures and group discussions. Estimated workload is 270 hours

Evaluation

The course coordinator and the student representative determine the evaluation form, and whether the courses/subjects are to be assessed mid-way or upon completion (cf. the quality system, chapter 4.1. Information about the course/subject will be published in Canvas).

Offered as Single Standing Module

Yes

Assessment methods and criteria

Portfolio assessment with three individual written assignments that may be submitted during the semester, in English or Norwegian. More information will be given in Canvas and in lectures. Graded A-F.