Nov 22, 2024
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25
CAS 2405 - Knowing What We Know
This course examines the role of knowledge claims in everyday judgement. Beginning with philosophical and historical perspectives on what it means to know (epistemology) we will discuss the nature of mathematical and scientific approaches to knowledge and understanding; the role of theory in knowledge construction in all disciplines; assessments of statistical uncertainty, especially as it pertains to prediction; and the extent to which “reading” data in the Sciences is analogous to reading texts in the Humanities. These subjects will be explored in the context of societal issues of contemporary import and forefront research questions from a number of different fields.
Requisites: Fr or Soph and WARNING No credit for both this course and the following (always deduct credit for first course taken): CAS 2400
Credit Hours: 4
General Education Code (students who entered prior to Fall 2021-22): 2AS
Repeat/Retake Information: May be retaken two times excluding withdrawals, but only last course taken counts.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 3.0 lecture, 1.0 discussion
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:
- Acquire a basic understanding of foundations in science.
- Consider what questions may be answerable within the scientific realm.
- Develop an appreciation for the role of these concepts (knowledge, uncertainty, prediction) in everyday judgment.
- Develop an understanding of how knowledge is constructed and formulated across different disciplines.
- Develop basic analytical skills.
- Explore ways in which uncertainty limits prediction.
- Learn what kinds of uncertainty are inherent to different modes of inquiry with particular emphasis on quantifying uncertainties in the natural sciences.
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