Ways of knowing

The objective of the course is that students learn how different sciences make up different ways of knowing, and how these relate to each other in interdisciplinary settings. They should learn that different practices, such as law, politics and science approach and define sustainability problems in different ways, and how different problem frames operate together, independently, and in conflict.

The course is closely connected to the content of the Introductory and Systems Thinking and Modelling courses, and introduces topics relating to 'knowledge of knowledge' (in Norwegian: Vitskapsteori). It specifically addresses the following:

• Different ways of knowing
• Scientific risk, uncertainty, complexity and ignorance
• Legal problem articulation and reasoning
• Disciplinarity, interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity.

On completion of this course the students should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can account for different forms of knowledge and their interrelations in practice, including legal, qualitative and system dynamic perspectives
• can account for differences between disciplinary, multi-disciplinary, interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches
• can account for and apply concepts of uncertainty, risk, ambiguity and ignorance

Skills

The student:

• can discuss differences between different theoretical perspectives and central concepts presented in the course
• Is capable of recognizing differing degrees of uncertainty, including in the student's own work
• can critically assess the merits and implications of different theoretical perspectives and central concepts presented in the course

General Competencies

The student:

• can think critically about data, scientific facts and evidence as produced and used within and across domains, and using various technologies and media
• can participate in interdisciplinary collaborations, situating and using the student's own knowledge in relation to other ways of knowing.