Critical thinking

This course, compulsory for all L1 students, will introduce the basics of epistemology and the scientific approach, as well as the tools needed to analyze controversies surrounding the sciences and alternative modalities. The scientific investigation of so-called paranormal phenomena, pseudoscience, pseudo-medicine, psychological aberrations, sectarian alienation, etc. will be covered, to make students aware of our cognitive biases and the rhetorical manipulations that can use them to convince or deceive. The ultimate aim of this course is to enable everyone to make informed choices, to research and sort information, and to protect themselves against techniques of influence and manipulation.

This course will be based on lectures and the viewing of various resources available on the Internet. You will be required to complete an entire course on Moodle and in class, which will then be assessed by MCQs.

- Know how knowledge is constructed in different disciplines (hypotheses, experimental results, polemical results, mathematical theorems, scientific facts, theories, paradigms).

- Basic knowledge of the history of science and epistemology

- Be able to develop a logical argument with a critical mind (limits, confrontation with the biblio, defense of a point of view).

- Be able to search for information critically (particularly with regard to information available online), prioritize sources of information and identify their reliability.

Written (coeff 0.8) and continuous assessment (coeff 0.2)

Hourly volumes* :

            CM: 15

            TD : 0

            TP: 0

            Land: 0