course-schedule

.Engaging with Knowledge and Sciences (Vorlesung)

Termin:
Einzeltermin | Mi, 19.10.2022, 10:15 - Mi, 19.10.2022, 11:45 | Online-Veranstaltung
Einzeltermin | Mi, 01.02.2023, 10:15 - Mi, 01.02.2023, 11:45 | Online-Veranstaltung

Inhalt: The lecture and the variety of seminars series will deal with classical concepts of knowledge and science as well as recent challenges (e.g. anti-realism, new materialism, feminism, theories of power, digitalization, globalization and interculturality). Object of this module will be the interdisciplinary exploration of theoretical foundations and central questions and notions regarding epistemology and the theory of science within the thematic range of all majors (e.g. with regard to differing conceptions of knowledge, forms of knowledge, knowledge production, science, truth, paradigms in the philosophy of science and the transformation of science). This includes an understanding of scientific knowledge productions from a historical perspective and within inter- and transcultural research contexts. Through their intellectual involvement with concepts and challenges as well as with their personal preunderstanding of interdisciplinary research, students will learn to relate epistemological principles from different disciplines and reflect these critically. In addition to that, ethical considerations regarding the responsible position research and science hold in contemporary societies will be of importance during the course of the lecture and of the seminars.

Artificial Intelligence – Understanding opportunities and limitations across disciplines (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Detlef Schwarting

Inhalt: AI (Artificial Intelligence) has become ubiquitous in the discourses on technological, economic, and societal development either as a savior or as a threat, both in the media and in various disciplines of science. In general, it can be stated that AI, in addition to having undeniable benefits and opportunities for humanity in the health care sector, in industrial processes and as a supporting tool in many situations of human life, also presents several existing or potential risks that are equally not yet holistically understood. In principle, an all-encompassing investigation would be called for that weighs benefits against risks and assesses them with a view to future developments. In fact, many discussions on the topic pick out individual aspects of the technology or individual applications and derive normative judgments. The assumptions made and their origins are often not clear. Many studies approach the topic from a mono-disciplinary perspective. It is the objective of this seminar of overcoming this by taking a cross-disciplinary view on AI’s functionality, opportunities, limitations, and shortcomings as a basis for further normative conclusions which will be detailed on a follow-on seminar. Some of the key questions that will be discussed in this seminar: • How does what computer scientists call "artificial intelligence" come into being? What are the mechanisms of action, how does cognition and judgment of AI come about? • What is natural intelligence, what does the intelligence theory of psychology tell us about it, and what clues does this provide for the understanding the limitations of artificial intelligence? • What is creativity and can AI ever be creative (in the human sense)? • What insights arise from the centuries-long discussions of the philosophy of mind, especially on the body-soul problem and on human consciousness for the classification of artificial intelligence? • Can human consciousness be "naturalized"? • What does science know about the functioning of the human brain and especially about the emergence of consciousness? • Does AI have free will and is the hypothesis that the human brain is determined plausible? • What is autonomy and is AI truly autonomous? • Can AI assume responsibility? • How does AI affect individuality of humans? • Does it affect human dignity? How?

Design Science Research: Knowledge production through Organizational Intervention (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Markus Zimmer

Inhalt: Note: This is a global classroom seminar between Leuphana University and University of Turku. We often assume that knowledge stems from observations which we describe and seek to explain. However, researchers can also produce knowledge through designing solutions for organizational problems. Imagine you could solve practical problems while contributing both knowledge about the problem and the designed solution. Design science research promises this prospect. Design science research comprises multiple research activities comprising problem understanding, suggesting designs based on existing knowledge, developing a solution and evaluating this solution. Hence, when designing an artefact and applying it to the studied problem in an organizational intervention, researchers can create different types of knowledge about the actual design, the intervention’s efficacy (i.e., does it solve the problem) and the research process. With this prospect, design science research can contribute to practice and research. This double-contribution makes it a perfect method for solving the problems of our time. For example, how can organizations become sustainable? In this seminar, we'll discuss the methodological and philosophical foundations of design science research. In groups, you’ll be designing an artifact for a potential intervention in an actual company. This means, the seminar involves guest lectures and working on real cases as well as reading scientific papers. Further, you’ll be working in international groups comprising students from Leuphana University and the University of Turku. Jointly, you’ll learn the ropes of design science research – a potential methodology for your master’s thesis – and its foundations in the philosophy of science.

Designing for Future Impact: End-User Integration, Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Steffen Farny

Inhalt: Typically, end users or “consumers” are perceived as adopters of sustainable products and services, developed by companies. Thus, a lot of attention is paid to the (non-) diffusion of sustainable products and services. From this perspective end users are seen as – more or less – passive recipients of sustainable products and services. However, recent innovation and entrepreneurship research shows that end users can play an important role in (co-) innovating novel sustainable products, services, and systems. In this course, we will explore (a) how end users are integrated in the process of sustainability innovations driven by companies (“user integration”), (b) how end users innovative for themselves, and eventually form enterprises to capture value from their sustainability innovations (“user innovation and entrepreneurship”). The course module invites students to experience principles of design thinking and challenge-based education. This means that the format of the course deviates from the standard lecturer-centric approach and instead adopts a student-centric approach.

Developing entrepreneurial solutions in the context of the Lunatic e.V. (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Steffen Farny, Svenja Rehwinkel

Inhalt: This seminar takes place in collaboration with the lunatic e.V. as a practice partner. In the context of challenges that the lunatic e.V. is confronted with, this seminar aims at analyzing real-world problems in a systematic manner and develop entrepreneurial solutions tailored to the challenge. Students will be divided into groups. Each group will tackle one challenge provided by our practice partner. Using insights from literature on (social and sustainable) entrepreneurship, group discussions and interaction with the lunatic e.V. (e.g. in form of interviews to better understand the challenge) each group will find an innovative solution to the allocated challenge. However, this seminar aims at, instead of just imagining possible solutions, implementing solutions fast and at a small scale to learn from them as fast as possible. lunatic e.V., our practice partner for this seminar, is a non-profit association responsible for a student-organized festival in Lüneburg. The lunatic e.V. is committed to holistic inclusion, diversity and sustainability as a prerequisite in both their team and at the festival. At the beginning of each winter semester, the team of people responsible for the previous festival select a new group of students who identify with the character of the festival and want to create something new out of it. The method by which the handover takes place creates a transfer of knowledge without standing in the way of radical new approaches and creativity. Thus, despite tradition, the work around the festival leaves room for contemporary values and structures. All team members are volunteers, the festival is not profit-oriented. Sounds too good to be true? It is no surprise that a radical approach like this does not come without challenges. Which is why this seminar supports the lunatic e.V. in findings innovative, entrepreneurial solutions to their challenges. The seminar is divided into four parts: Apart from the lunatic context, we will start by exploring how fast we can implement entrepreneurial solutions generally. Afterwards, we will engage with the challenges of the lunatic e.V. by turning to existing literature in the field and collecting empirical data with regards to the challenge. To conclude the seminar, students will present their solutions in an engaging and well-argued manner.

Interdisciplinary comparative studies on the Council of Europe and the European Union (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Albrecht Wendenburg

Inhalt: After the Second World War, different paths were taken to peacefully reorganize Western Europe. The Council of Europe and the European Economic Community (today the European Union) are examples of different political options: As a classical international organisation, the Council of Europe formed a broad ring of European member states from the outset. Today it comprises 46 countries, including, for example, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Azerbaijan. The European Union, on the other hand, was for a long time a small group of only six member states with a limited organisational purpose, but it broke new ground in integration towards an effective supranational association of states, which has grown considerably and now encompasses 27 member states. The highly different political systems represented by the Council of Europe and the European Union are analysed in a more interdisciplinary way (political, legal, historical). Since there is a great heterogeneity between (and within) the respective member states, the handling of otherness can be questioned and discussed on the basis of controversial issues (e.g. voting rights of prisoners; secularism; fair trial vs. material justice, etc.). It should be questioned to what extent this heterogeneity is endured by the organisations and what price they may pay for it. The Council of Europe and the European Union are at the same time characterized by highly professional civil services and are partly legitimized by the quality of their work (in the sense of output legitimacy). Therefore, the working methods and behaviour of academics in international and supranational organisations, shall be reflected, too. The Council of Europe and the European Union are characterised by internationality, multilingualism and a largely coherent set of values, which is expressed in the European Convention on Human Rights. Thus, approaches to a pan-European identity are emerging, which may overlap or replace nation-state reference points.

Issues in Feminist Philosophies (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Chiara Stefanoni

Termin:
wöchentlich | Mittwoch | 12:15 - 13:45 | 26.10.2022 - 25.01.2023 | C 5.325 Seminarraum

Inhalt: How can we understand the relationship between feminism and philosophy? Is it a relation of antagonism, interiority, or exteriority? Starting from ancient philosophy, we will investigate how feminist perspectives put into question the philosophical tradition, its biases and its features. Following a chronological as well as a thematic path, we will discuss key texts in feminist thinking and, at the same time, we will see how they critique and rethink main philosophical issues: metaphysics, subjectivity, and epistemology. In doing so, we will take into consideration a plurality of feminist approaches, concepts and debates: from the first wave feminism and its struggle for equality to the Italian feminism of the second wave, from the queer turn and its radical discussion of sexuality and identities, to the tradition of Marxist feminism and the problem of "domestic labor", from black feminism and intersectionality to ecofeminism and feminist animal studies.

Knowing Colour (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Timon Beyes

Termin:
wöchentlich | Mittwoch | 10:00 - 14:00 | 07.12.2022 - 25.01.2023 | C 12.102 Seminarraum | .

Inhalt: Colour is inescapable. It fills and forms the world, shaping what can be felt and known, desired and expressed. Yet where colour is and how it works are notoriously tricky and contested questions. Is it in our minds or bodies, or is it ‘out there’ in the word? Is colour perception culturally specific or universal? Does the way we talk about colour influence how we perceive it? Is it a mere appendage to social status – the black of intellectualism and artistry, say, or the muted colours of refinement – or does it shape social organization, e.g. as a tool of marketing or the manipulation of moods? As if behaving on its own terms, colour has proved to be supremely indifferent to scholarly categories, definitions and ordering systems. In Wittgenstein’s memorable words, ‘[w]e stand there like the ox in front of the newly-painted stall door’. That colour remains one of the most puzzling phenomena for academic inquiry might explain its comparable neglect in the social sciences. This seminar is dedicated to noticing colour and investigating the perennial problem of knowing colour. The emphasis lies on historic and recent attempts to understand colour as a cultural and social force: what it does rather than what it is. How can we think and explore colour as a ‘medium of transformation’ (Walter Benjamin) that shapes, and that is shaped by, the social?

Modelling and Control of Dynamical Systems using Linear and Nonlinear Differential Equations (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Paolo Mercorelli

Termin:
wöchentlich | Mittwoch | 08:15 - 09:45 | 17.10.2022 - 03.02.2023 | C 40.106 Konrad-Zuse-Raum

Inhalt: Forms of Modelling of dynamical systems (technical, biological, economic and social systems), which can be seen as a course of applied mathematics intended for humanists, aims to try to introduce those forms with their language to be used to interpret and describe systems. Beneﬁting from having knowledge in the field of applied mathematics is in the same way important as beneﬁting from having knowledge in the field of German literature, or theology, philosophy or agronomy for example. Humanists with no experience in training in the formal notation of applied mathematics, which, in nearly every case, works as compactness over explanatory transparency, have difficulties in making their way through an argument depending on that form. And there is, in general, no way to “ﬁgure it out” without that kind of training. As mentioned, applied mathematics, in nearly every case, works as compactness over explanatory transparency and represents, nevertheless, a clear paradoxically valid mystification of the reality. Humanists can have interest to build a proper set of concepts for dealing with modelling and simulation forms. Modelling and simulation forms of dynamical systems can be represented using different but equivalent structures such as equations with variables defined in real time, block diagrams, equations with variables defined in the imaginary domain or others. But, paradoxically, without those mathematical valid mystifications they become mostly unintelligible. To conclude, independently of the motivations of each of us, the most important aim is to try knowing our soul better, as long as we are assuming that our soul manifests itself in different but, in the meantime, "complementary" forms. (Free interpreted from De Anima, Aristotle).

Möglichkeits(t)räume: Sensorisches Recording und Architektur - Explorative Zeichenkohlespur als Methode der kunstbasierten Nachhaltigsforschung (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Jan Helbig

Termin:
wöchentlich | Mittwoch | 10:15 - 11:45 | 26.10.2022 - 25.01.2023 | C 6.316 Seminarraum

Inhalt: Möglichkeits(t)räume: Sensorisches Recording und Architektur Explorative Zeichenkohlespur als Methode der kunstbasierten Nachhaltigsforschung Im Seminar werden basale Elemente von Architektur wie z.B. Fassade und Grundriss im Kontext eines realen bauplanerischen Entwicklungsprozesses auf Qualitäten von (Nicht-)Nachhaltigkeit untersucht. Hierbei kommt die zunächst gemeinsam erarbeitete und erprobte künstlerisch-explorative Kohlespur(zeichnerisch, malerisch und als Frottage) als kunstbasierte sensorische Methode zum Einatz. Das - im Sinne der Offenen Form praktizierte - sensorische Recording kann im Bauentwurfsprozess zum Impulsgeber für konkrete Planungsansätze nachhaltiger Transformationen werden. Den Untersuchungsgegenstand unseres interdisziplinären Projektes mit Architekturstudierenden der HCU stellt das Brauhaus Nolte in Lüneburg dar. Das traditionelle Familienunternehmen vereint mittlerweile biozertifiziertes Brauhandwerk, regionale Slowfoodküche mit kulturellen Veranstaltungen. Im gemeinsamen und wechselseitigen Erkenntnisaustausch mit den Architekturstudierenden wollen wir unsererseits das zu erforschende Feld um Perspektiven sensitiver Qualitäten erweitern. Der Seminarleiter und Künstler Jan Helbig bezeichnet die grundlegende Methode seiner prozesshaften Malerei als Strategie der Offenen Form. Im bewussten Verzicht auf Vorplanungen findet er das Bild in der Suchbewegung. Die dabei miteinander in Dialog tretenden Formen kommunizieren malerisch durchlässig, indem sie das Eigene bewahren und zugleich offen für die Botschaft benachbarter Formen bleiben. Leitung: Angeleitet wird das Seminar von dem diplomierten Künstler Jan Helbig - freischaffender Künstler in den Feldern Malerei und Performance sowie Entwickler der künstlerischen Strategie der Offenen Form und Gastdozent Dr. Matthias Kulcke - Lehrender im Architekturentwurf an der HafenCity Universität Hamburg, Bühnenbildner und Raumgestalter.

Philsophy of Social Science (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Markus Reihlen, Dennis Schoeneborn

Inhalt: This course provides you with insights into how to do more engaging and useful research. So what can philosophy contribute to social science? The answer is straightforward: it helps to construct more interesting research problems by challenging taken-for-granted assumptions. The philosophy of social science raises fundamental questions relevant to the practicing researcher, such as what is the nature of social phenomena? Should we see organizations as accumulations of autonomous individuals, collective actors with goals of their own, or systems embedded into society? What is the appropriate form of investigation? Should we rely on empirical facts, on our reason, on action, or on intuition? Can we investigate society by studying individuals or via their social structures? What values and norms of social actions are appropriate? Should we see the individual's freedom (maximization of individual benefit) or his/her responsibility to the community at large (maximization of collective benefit) as the primary goal of social action? This course blends specific perspectives from the philosophy of social science with controversies in social studies. Our use of the term social studies is broad; it includes all disciplines that study social systems of different kinds and of different levels such as economics, sociology, political science, culturology, social psychology, and the respective socio-technologies such as management. This course will enable students to explain how philosophy could contribute to the improvement and interestingness of social research. More specifically, students will be made familiar with general philosophical controversies in social science such as individualism versus holism, idealism versus materialism, the positivism versus postmodernism debates. Finally, we address the relation between science and praxis and reflect upon the different statuses of science and technology.

Social-Ecological Transformation (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Ines Lietzke-Prinz

Termin:
wöchentlich | Mittwoch | 12:15 - 13:45 | 26.10.2022 - 25.01.2023 | C 14.103 Seminarraum

Inhalt: In dem im September 2022 erschienenen Bericht „Earth for All“ zeigt der Club of Rome zwei Zukunftsszenarien auf und präsentiert mit fünf sogenannter Kehrtwenden „einen beharrlich optimistischen Leitfaden für die Zukunft“. Im Seminar werden wir uns mit diesem Leitfaden kritisch auseinandersetzen und uns nach einer kurzen, historischen Einordnung folgende Themenbereiche im Kontext der sozial-ökologischen Transformation erarbeiten: - Armut, - Ungleichheit, - Geschlechtergerechtigkeit, - Ernährung, - Energie, - Neues Wirtschaften. Verschiedene „Cases“ werden uns helfen, die großen Themenkomplexe greifbar zu machen und konkrete Lösungsansätze zu diskutieren; externe Gäste - wie ein Handelsexperte der WTO, ein Treiber der Puropose Economy, ein Lobbyist eines großen, deutschen Handelskonzerns sowie eine Anthropologin, die zur finanziellen Gleichstellung von Frauen forscht - gewähren uns interessante Einblicke in Ihren Arbeitsalltag und regen uns zum Diskurs über alternative Zukunftsmodelle an.

The Deep History of Knowledge and its Future (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Davor Löffler

Inhalt: With the emergence of knowledge production based on information technologies, Humanity is entering into a new relationship with truth, objectivity, time, and the world. In order to gain a more profound understanding of this transition and its consequences for society and humanity, this seminar will revisit the major historical transitions in knowledge structures and knowledge production starting with the beginning of life through the evolution of animals, the first production of tools three million years ago, the emergence of media 40.000 years ago, the appearance of systematic science, formal thought and philosophy in antiquity, the scientific revolution in the 17th century up to the current and future algorithm-based production of scientific knowledge. By discussing the consequences of these transitions for various fields insights into the entanglement of science, truth and temporality can be gained. The perspective on the deep history of knowledge production as a history of the domestication of the world allows to relate the current transformation of our concept of truth, time and knowledge to a broader range of domains such as subjectivity, cognition, norms, political and social structures.

The diffusion and variation of organizational practices (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Rainer Lueg

Termin:
14-täglich | Freitag | 14:15 - 17:15 | 24.10.2022 - 27.01.2023 | C 6.316 Seminarraum

Inhalt: The course is designed to introduce theories, concepts and tools of organizational practices and their diffusion in a field. Specifically, it will shed light on the antecedents, processes and effects of diffusion processes, as well as the interaction with the change pattern of the diffusing practice. While examples will be discussed with a focus on social science research, the content can be transferred to practice diffusion in natural sciences and technology, life science, as well as humanities.

Werkstatt und E-Learning Einheit zu Theorien der Gender- und Diversity-Forschung (Seminar)

Dozent/in: Christine Katz, Anja Thiem

Inhalt: Im Rahmen des Seminars findet eine Auseinandersetzung mit zentralen theoretischen Konzepten, Methoden und Diskursen zu geschlechterbezogener Identität, Differenz und Diversity statt. Die sich daraus ergebenden forschungspraktischen und institutionellen Herausforderungen werden ebenso behandelt wie die damit einhergehenden gesellschaftlichen Konflikte und sozialen Bewegungen. Didaktischer Ausgangspunkt ist dabei zum einen die eigene Position in intersektionalen gesellschaftlichen Verhältnissen sowie zum anderen sind es die jeweiligen fachlichen Perspektiven und Hintergründe, die die Studierenden mitbringen. Es werden Texte und Ansätze behandelt aus den Gendertheorien, dem Black Feminism, den Queer Studies, zu Intersektionalität und Postkolonialer Theorie, den Disability und Transgender Studies und zu Gender und Nachhaltigkeit. Darüber hinaus werden wir uns mit anti-feministischen und rassistischen Strömungen auseinandersetzen. Ein kleiner inhaltlicher Input seitens der Studierenden ist vorgesehen und bildet die Grundlage für die Hausarbeit. U.a. geht es um Aspekte wie: • Beziehung zwischen den verschiedenen diversitäts- und differenzorientierten Bewegungen und Strömungen und ihrer fachlichen Etablierung an den Hochschulen und Institutionen • Die Verbindung und Verweise der einzelnen Strömungen und Bewegungen unter- und aufeinander • Reflexion der „Blinden Flecken“ bei der Berücksichtigung von Intersektionalität in den Bewegungen • Veränderungen von fachlichen bzw. Problem-Perspektiven durch Intersektionalität? • Welche Relevanz haben Normsetzungen für gesellschaftliche Transformationsprozesse?

Course Schedule

Lehrveranstaltungen