Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
How to understand the formation and the transformation of Society through its scientific or technological stakes? Which are the social and political stakes of scientific and technological developments?
The sociology of the actor-network (Actor-Network Theory) proposes a multidisciplinary approach which tries to transcend the compartmentalization between social sciences and natural or applied sciences.
Course contents :
- General introduction to STS (Science, Technology and Society) and context of emergence of ANT (Actor-Network Theory);
- Philosophical and epistemological's drive of ANT;
- The concepts of ANT;
- Methodological consequences for the analyst;
- The ANT from the point of view of the practician : presentation of case studies;
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
At the end of the course, students should be able to... :
- Master the philosophical and empirical dimension linked to the ANT's approach;
- Undergo an empirical application of the theory (thesis, diagnostical expertise);
- Spot the transformation of the way to define the problem at hand and their effects...
- in situation of technical and/or scientific controversies;
- with a key non-human dimension (relation to technical objects or animals).
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
None: the course is organised in a way that enable students coming from different backgrounds (Humanities, Social sciences, Sciences, Applied sciences and Medecine) to benefit from the approach . It is a way - for some of them - to enter the social and humanistic realms through technical or scientifical practices or controversies.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
The course is organized through lectures, debates on STS articles, and case studies presentations by invited researchers.
A collection of readings will be given to the students at the beginning of the course.
Oral examination.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Contacts
François Mélard
Phone: +00 32 43663152
E-mail : f.melard@ulg.ac.be