PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

Academic year
2020/2021 Syllabus of previous years
Official course title
FILOSOFIA DELLA SCIENZA
Course code
FT0409 (AF:322466 AR:179138)
Modality
On campus classes
ECTS credits
6
Degree level
Bachelor's Degree Programme
Educational sector code
M-FIL/02
Period
4th Term
Course year
3
Moodle
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We live and develop in a “knowledge society” in which historical and philosophical considerations of science are necessary to understand the present day. As a result of this need, the department is renewing and reinforcing course offerings and research in the history and philosophy of science, promoting a diverse and interdisciplinary perspective with the goal of creating, over time, a community recognized in national and international spheres.
The course in 'Philosophy of Science' is part of a teaching package offered for this area [together with (Triennale) Epistemologia storica, Logica; History of science, Logica della matematica; (Magistrale) Philosophy of social science; Political Epistemology; Renaissance natural philosophy, alchemy, astrology, and magic; (Corsi affini) Bioetica; Etica Sociale e Bioetica; Storia della Logica; (PISE) Logic&Philosophy of Science].
The overall objective of this module is to show how philosophical tools, concepts and apparata (both from classic philosophical debates and from the specific field under investigation) can be used and applied to the analysis and understanding of scientific reasoning.
- a good understanding of the basic concepts and philosophical issues in the philosophy of science
- a good background knowledge of the main philosophical debates concerning the nature and role of scientific method (past and current)
- knowledge of major epistemological and methodological perspectives in the philosophy of science.

Students in this course should also be able to acquire:
- the ability to reason in an analytic style of argument
- the ability to single out and discuss the practical implications of the questions and problems raised by the contexts where the philosophical concepts under investigations are used
- to assess the role and relevance of philosophical understanding in the realm of scientific reasoning.
knowledge of issues and concepts discussed in the philosophy of science is not expected nor assumed.
This course – 'Scientific method: theory and practices' – introduces to the debate regarding the scientific method both from a theoretical and historical perspective.

The content of the course is divided into the following 5 themes:

A. DEDUCTION AND INDUCTION
B. THE INDUCTIVE METHODS
C. FALSIFICATIONISM
D. SCIENTIFIC REVOLUTIONS
E. DUHEM-QUINE THESIS AND QUINE

One lecture will be entirely dedicate to FEMINIST PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
Textbook:

J. Ladyman, Filosofia della scienza, Carocci, Roma, 2007.

Texts:

D. Hume, "Ricerca sull'intelletto umano"
K. Popper, "La Scienza: Congetture e Confutazioni’, in "Congetture e Confutazioni", Il Mulino, Bologna, 1972.
T. Kuhn, "La natura e la necessità delle rivoluzioni scientifiche" in "La struttura delle rivoluzioni scientifiche", Einaudi, Torino, 1969
W.V.O Quine "Two dogmas of empiricism" in "From a logical point of view", Harward University Press, Harward, 1953
Final assessment is by a two-hours written examination. The exam will consist of three questions, each addressing an issue arisen from the topics discussed during the course. Each answer should demonstrate both a basic understanding of the issues and a capacity for answering each question in a well argued and focused manner. The grade received for the course depends on exam performance only. However, keeping up with the reading assigned for each lectures and, where possible, participating in discussion are the most effective way to prepare for exams. It is also an effective way for students to monitor their strengths and weaknesses, and to discover and remedy gaps in their understanding, all in good time ahead of exams.
The course will be taught online, except for the first two weeks.
Italian
written
Definitive programme.
Last update of the programme: 29/04/2021