Prof. Marius Janson - Courses - IS407- Philosophy of Science

IS-407 Philosophy of Science – Fall 2002 Semester Professor Marius Janson Office: 207 Computer Center Building Phone: 314-516-5846 Fax: 314-516-6827 E-Mail: janson@umsl.edu Web: http://www.umsl.edu/~mjanson Web: http://www.mjanson.com Purpose and Content of the Seminar Seminar Assignments Term Project Seminar Grading Required Books Recommended Books Schedule Purpose and Content of the Seminar This seminar presents an introduction to philosophical concepts underlying scientific inquest, positivist and nonpostivist theory and methods, and critical theory-based methods. The first part of the seminar introduces the history of science, epistemological concerns, and the controversies involving induction, deduction, and cause and effect. The seminar starts with a focus on the physical sciences, after which attention shifts to the social sciences. The aforementioned progression reflects the fact that issues concerning the application of information technology involve the physical as well as social sciences. Because this is a seminar rather than standard graduate course, participants are expected to take an active role outside and inside the classroom in thinking through and discussing philosophical issues. That is to say, the seminar’s success depends as much on the instructor as it does on the participants – we will be learning from each other. Each time we meet someone chosen from among the seminar’s participants will be required to present a summary, critique, and evaluation of the required reading for that particular meeting. Back to top Seminar Assignments The seminar is based on active participant discussion. Therefore, seminar participants are expected to have read the assigned materials before coming to class. “Reading” means a thoroughgoing study that enables discussion and active participation during class time. A seminar participant is expected to write 1) six papers (three-to-four single-spaced pages in length) on the assigned readings, and 2) one term paper (eight-to-fifteen single-spaced pages in length). The term paper is to be a research proposal for investigating a problem or topic in information systems. As has been the practice in the previous class I taught, rewrites of papers is an option for students who want to improve their grade. Back to top Term Project Seminar participants should consult the course instructor early in the semester concerning selection of a term project proposal. Back to top Seminar Grading Six assigned readings papers 40% Term paper 50% Class participation 10% Back to top Required Books Berger, P., and Luckmann (1989) The Social Construction of Reality, New York, NY: Anchor Books. Habermas, J. (1984) The Theory of Communicative Action, Volume One: Reason and the Rationalization of Society, Boston, MA: Beacon Press. Hughes, J., and Sharrock, J. (1990) The Philosophy of Social Research, New York, NY: Longman (Third Edition). Loose, J. (1972) A Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Science, New York, NY: Oxford University Press (Fourth Edition). Back to top Recommended Books Habermas, J. (1987) The Theory of Communicative Action, Volume Two: The Critique of Functionalist Reason, Boston, MA: Beacon Press. Kuhn, T. S. (1996) The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press (Third Edition). Lemert, C. (1997) Postmodernism Is Not What You Think, New York, NY: Blackwell Publishers. Scruton, R. (1999) An Intelligent Person’s Guide to Philosophy, New York, NY: Penguin Books. Back to top Schedule Week 1, August 22, 2002: Philosophical considerations and information systems (IS). Epistemological issues, theories underlying IS research, research direction, research critiqued. Read: Benbasat, I. (1985) “An Analysis of Research Methodologies,” in The Information Systems Research Challenge, Warren McFarlan (ed.), Boston, MA: Harvard Business School, pp. 47-88. Nurminen, M. I. (1986) People and Computers: Three Ways of Looking at Information Systems, Sweden, Lund: Studentlitteratur, pp. 69-111. Rockart, J. F. (1985) “Conclusion to Part I,” in The Information Systems Research Challenge, Warren McFarlan (ed.), Boston, MA: Harvard Business School, pp. 97-104. Questions: What is the nature of research topics, research approaches and methods, research contribution, and the type of knowledge gained? What are the researches’ assumptions about the nature of knowledge; is it objective, subjective, social, et cetera? Back to top Week 2, August 29, 2002: Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Science Read: Loose, pp. 1-85. Questions: What are some of the assumptions by various philosophers about deduction, the existence of an objective world and what can be known about this world? What is different between Galileo, Bacon, and Descartes concerning knowledge acquisition, scientific procedures, theory confirmation, epistemology, and religious beliefs? Read: Lewis, D. (2002) “Causation: Influence versus Sufficiency,” The Journal of Philosophy, Vol. XCIX, No. 2, 84-101. Questions: Write a one-page critique of Lewis – be prepared to discuss in class. Back to top Week 3, September 5, 2002: Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Science Read: Loose, pp. 86-196. Questions: What are the differences between induction and deduction, positivism and anti-positivism, and what is the influence of language on meaning and theory formation? Read: Murray, J. B., Ozanne, J. L. (1991) “The Critical Imagination: Emancipatory Interests in Consumer Research,” Journal of Consumer Research, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 129-144. Questions: Write a one-page critique of Murray and Ozanne – be prepared to discuss in class. Back to top Week 4, September 12, 2002: Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Science Class Meeting Cancelled Read: Loose, pp. 197-235. Assignment #1: Critique paper on Loose due (Will be returned graded on September 19, 2002). Back to top Week 5, September 19, 2002: Historical Introduction to the Philosophy of Science Read: Loose, pp. 236-277. Read: Janson, M., and Willis, R. (1985) “Robust Methods Applied to Energy Consumption Data,” Decision Sciences, Vol.16, pp.343-356. Questions: What is the underlying philosophy of the article and which rationality type is assumed? Assignment #2: Critique paper on Loose due. The paper should be ten or fewer pages in length. Read: Basden, A. (2002) “ A Philosophical Underpinning for Information Systems Design,” in Proceedings of European Conference of Information Systems, S. Wrycza (ed.), June 6-8, Gdansk, Poland. Question: Write a one-page critique of Basden – be prepared to discuss in class. Back to top Week 6, September 26, 2002: The Social Construction of Reality Read: Berger & Luckmann Lacity, M., and Janson, M. (1994) “Understanding Qualitative Data: A Framework for Text Analysis,” Journal of Management Information Systems, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 137-155. Questions: What are the foundations of everyday life and experience? What is the relation between objective and subjective realities and what is the role of language? What stands out in the Lacity/Janson article in light of Berger & Luckman concepts? Assignment #3: Critique Berger & Luckmann Back to top Week 7, October 3, 2002: The Philosophy of Social Research Read: Hughes & Sharrock, pp. 1-120. Questions: What is the relationship between social research and philosophy? What is the positivistic research orientation and how does it contrast with the interpretive turn? Read: Avgerou, C. (2000) “Recognizing Alternative Rationalities in the Deployment of Information Systems, Electronic Journal on Information Systems in Developing Countries, Vol. 3, No. 7, pp. 1-15. Questions: A one-page critical comment on western rationality, critical rationality, modernization, and “different” rationalities – be prepared for class discussion. Back to top Week 8, October 10, 2002: The Philosophy of Social Research Read: Hughes & Sharrock, pp. 121-209. Questions: What is the relationship between language, meaning, reality, and rationality? How does language influence or determine meaning, and reality. What are the various rationality types? Read: Carlsson, S. A. (?) “Critical Realism: A Preferred Approach to Research on Design, Development, and Use of ICT-based Information Systems?” Informatics, pp.49-57. Questions: A one-page critical comment on postmodernism, postrealist, and interpretive IS research. – be prepared for class discussion. Compare, contrast the three concepts and discuss pros and cons. Assignment #4: Critique Hughes and Sharrock. Back to top Week 9, October 17, 2002: The Theory of Communicative Action Read: Habermas, pp. 1-74. Read: Cecez-Kecmanovic, D., Janson, M. A., and Brown, A. (2002) “Information Systems and Rationalization of Organizations: An Outline for a New Direction in Information Systems Research,” in Proceedings of the European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management Studies, Dan Remeny (ed.), Reading University, 29-30 April, 2002, pp. 59-66. Questions: What are alternative rationality types and how do they help to impute meaning into human experience and information systems analysis? Be prepared to discuss in class. Back to top Week 10, October 17, 2002: The Theory of Communicative Action Read: Habermas, pp. 75-141. Questions: What is Weber’s relationship to rationalization and is does it reflect a certain measure of religiosity, and if so, which one? Read: Moebius, M. (2001) “Gaining Knowledge about Extranet Technology – An Epistemological Journey,” in Proceedings of European Conference on Research Methodology for Business and Management, pp. ? Questions: Write a three-page critique on what is epistemology? Is it a useful concept? What is it relation with respect to positivist and anti-positivist research? Be prepared to discuss in class. Assignment #4: Critique Habermas starting from page 1 and ending at page 141. In particular – what is social action, what are the three world types, what are the alternative rationality concepts? Project: Course Project Proposals Due. Back to top Week 11, October 24, 2002: The Theory of Communicative Action Read: Habermas, pp. 143-186. Janson, M. and Woo, C. (1995) “Comparing IS Development Tools and Methods: Using Speech Act Theory,” Information and Management, Vol. 28, pp.1-12. Questions: Exactly, what are speech acts, instrumental, strategic, normatively regulated, communicative, and dramaturgical action? How do these actions affect human relationships? Can communicative action theory inform design, implementation, and use of information systems? Back to top Week 12, October 31, 2002: The Theory of Communicative Action Read: Habermas, pp. 216-271. Questions: What worldviews does Habermas consider and what are the differences between various worldviews. Assignment #5: Critique Habermas starting at page 216 and ending at page 271. Back to top Week 13, November 7, 2002: The Theory of Communicative Action Read: Habermas, pp. 273-337. Kaffel Ben Ayed, Kaabi Chihi, and Kamoun, (2001) “Electronic Negotiation: Characteristics and Requirements,” in Developing a Dynamic, Integrative, Multi-Disciplinary Research Agenda in E-Commerce/E-Business, Steve Elliot, Kim Andersen, Paula Swatman, and Siegfried Reich, (eds.), Salzburg, Austria, pp. 57-71. Questions: Exactly, what are instrumental, strategic, normatively regulated, communicative, and dramaturgical action? How do these actions affect human relationships? Can communicative action theory inform design, implementation, and use of information systems? What role can communicative action theory play in eCommerce as it is discussed in the article? Back to top Week 14, November 14, 2002: The Theory of Communicative Action Read: Habermas, pp. 273-399. Janson, M., and Woo, C. (1992) “Investigating Information and Knowledge Gathering Methods: A Speech Act Lexicon Perspective,” in Information Systems Concepts: Improving the Understanding,” Falkenberg, Rolland, and El-Sayed, (eds.), New York, NY: 239-257. Questions: Write a three-page critique of the article. What are speech acts and how many speech acts does one have? What do you think when someone claims that speaking is a form of action – is the person crazy or does he/she have a point. What are the strengths and weaknesses of speech act theory? How can it be used in IS theory and practice? Back to top Week 15, November 21, 2002: Ethics Read: Sipponen, M. (2001) “On The Role of Human Morality in Information Systems Security: From the Problems of Descriptivism to Non-Descriptive Foundations,” in Conceptual Enrichment for End-User Issues in Information Systems Security, Masters Thesis, University of Oulu, Finland. Read: Sipponen, M. (2001) “Critical Analysis of Approaches to Minimize User-Related Faults in Information Systems Security: Implications for Research and Practice,” in Conceptual Enrichment for End-User Issues in Information Systems Security, Masters Thesis, University of Oulu, Finland. Question: Write a three-page critique “On the Role of ….” and address whether philosophy of ethics is useful to computer security? In what ways? How does ethical philosophy help suggest approaches to minimize security? Assignment #6: Critique Habermas starting at page 273 and ending at page 399. Back to top Week 16, December 5, 2002: Term Project Due. In Conclusion: What have we learned? Back to top

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