Philosophy of Science
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the basics of epistemology and general philosophy of science as well as with the essential traits of the most significant debates that have shaped it. An interdisciplinary approach will be applied and examples from various scientific disciplines and their history will be examined during classes.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student
1. masters the basic concepts and fundamental themes characterising philosophy of science
2. knows the fundamental elements of science methodology.
3. can discern the various kinds of scientific reasoning and understand the validity of arguments brought by her/his own and others.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student
1. can critically analyze a text in epistemology and philosophy of science
2. can analyze debates within the philosophy of science
3. can outline the state of the art in relation to a problem in this discipline
4. can apply the methodological tools acquired to solve theoretical and practical problems.
At the end of the course, the student
1. masters the basic concepts and fundamental themes characterising philosophy of science
2. knows the fundamental elements of science methodology.
3. can discern the various kinds of scientific reasoning and understand the validity of arguments brought by her/his own and others.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
At the end of the course, the student
1. can critically analyze a text in epistemology and philosophy of science
2. can analyze debates within the philosophy of science
3. can outline the state of the art in relation to a problem in this discipline
4. can apply the methodological tools acquired to solve theoretical and practical problems.
Lesson period: First semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
The course provides students with the basics of epistemology and the general philosophy of science as well as with the essential traits of their most significant debates. These issues are explored with reference to a handbook plus complementary materials and discussed in light of a classic of the scientific thought: Gaston Bachelard's "Against Method" (6 CFU Syllabus, corresponding to the first 40 hours). The last part of the course (for the 9 CFU Syllabus, corresponding to the remaining 20 hours) deals with the anarcho-libertarian criticism of the concept of method and the relevance of anarchistic tradition for epistemology.
On-line environment on MyAriel. Students can choose to absolve a program for 6 ECTS (40 hour classes) or 9 ECTS (all classes, i.e. 60 hours).
Recordings: the lectures will be recorded and accessible (through MyAriel) for the enitre academic year.
Streaming: lectures will be streamed only when the room reaches full capacity (the course code is provided on MyAriel)
Non-attending students: up to two on-line lectures (on MS Teams) providing a recap of the main issues for the 6 ECTS course, clarifications of critical issues and answers to questions, explanation and examples of the exam. The lecture will be recorded and stored on MyAriel. Dedicated support material on MyAriel (including: complete syllabus; lecture slide collection; recordings of all lectures; exam samples)
The program is valid for a duration of one year (7 terms).
On-line environment on MyAriel. Students can choose to absolve a program for 6 ECTS (40 hour classes) or 9 ECTS (all classes, i.e. 60 hours).
Recordings: the lectures will be recorded and accessible (through MyAriel) for the enitre academic year.
Streaming: lectures will be streamed only when the room reaches full capacity (the course code is provided on MyAriel)
Non-attending students: up to two on-line lectures (on MS Teams) providing a recap of the main issues for the 6 ECTS course, clarifications of critical issues and answers to questions, explanation and examples of the exam. The lecture will be recorded and stored on MyAriel. Dedicated support material on MyAriel (including: complete syllabus; lecture slide collection; recordings of all lectures; exam samples)
The program is valid for a duration of one year (7 terms).
Prerequisites for admission
Preliminary notions are not required
Teaching methods
Frontal lectures, live and on-line group activities, discussions. When appropriate, a multimedia, approach is employed (e.g. PowerPoint). If possible, compulsory as well as optional didactic materials (e.g. slides discussed during classes) are uploaded on the Moodle/MyAriel space of the course
Teaching Resources
No English literature is provided. For substitute reading materials in English for non-Italian speakers, please contact the instructor.
Assessment methods and Criteria
PRELIMINARY WRITTEN + ORAL TEST
The exam consists of a preliminary written and an oral examination. The latter can be only taken by students who have passed the written test. No distinction is made between attending and non-attending students. Programs expire after one year.
The written test consists both in multiple choice questions (or MCQ) and open questions for Points 1, 2, and 3 of the Bibliography. It intends to ascertain knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and conceptual basics of the philosophy of science (MCQ) and to prove the ability to apply knowledge and understanding, make judgments and communicate them in written form (open questions). Attending students can replace the open-question section of the written test with a MyAriel activity, which will be explained at the beginning of the class. The written test is compulsory for all students; except for documented cases of health reasons, as well as for students taking the course for the second time ("iterations") and second-degree students, no dispensations are given (in such cases, the assessment will be done through an oral exam.)
The oral test intends to ascertain understanding and reflection abilities as well as communication skills and appropriateness of language. The oral test is compulsory for all students with the 9 ECTS (CFU) Syllabus and concerns Points 4-5 of the Bibliography. It is optional for students with the 6 ECTS (CFU) Syllabus and score at least 18 points in the written test; they will be tested orally on Points 1-3 of the Bibliography. (Those who pass the written test and opt for not having the oral exam should notify this to the instructor and will be graded according to the final score of the written test).
The written and the oral test are taken into account in grading in the following manner: for 6 ECTS (CFU) exams, the written test constitutes up to 100% of the final grade (the non-compulsory oral exam may modify the final grade in the proportion of 10%); for 9 ECTS (CFU) exams, the written test constitutes 90% of the final grade, the oral exam the remaining 10%.
The exam procedure is thoroughly explained during the first lecture and published on the Moodle space of the course.
The exam consists of a preliminary written and an oral examination. The latter can be only taken by students who have passed the written test. No distinction is made between attending and non-attending students. Programs expire after one year.
The written test consists both in multiple choice questions (or MCQ) and open questions for Points 1, 2, and 3 of the Bibliography. It intends to ascertain knowledge and understanding of the theoretical and conceptual basics of the philosophy of science (MCQ) and to prove the ability to apply knowledge and understanding, make judgments and communicate them in written form (open questions). Attending students can replace the open-question section of the written test with a MyAriel activity, which will be explained at the beginning of the class. The written test is compulsory for all students; except for documented cases of health reasons, as well as for students taking the course for the second time ("iterations") and second-degree students, no dispensations are given (in such cases, the assessment will be done through an oral exam.)
The oral test intends to ascertain understanding and reflection abilities as well as communication skills and appropriateness of language. The oral test is compulsory for all students with the 9 ECTS (CFU) Syllabus and concerns Points 4-5 of the Bibliography. It is optional for students with the 6 ECTS (CFU) Syllabus and score at least 18 points in the written test; they will be tested orally on Points 1-3 of the Bibliography. (Those who pass the written test and opt for not having the oral exam should notify this to the instructor and will be graded according to the final score of the written test).
The written and the oral test are taken into account in grading in the following manner: for 6 ECTS (CFU) exams, the written test constitutes up to 100% of the final grade (the non-compulsory oral exam may modify the final grade in the proportion of 10%); for 9 ECTS (CFU) exams, the written test constitutes 90% of the final grade, the oral exam the remaining 10%.
The exam procedure is thoroughly explained during the first lecture and published on the Moodle space of the course.
Unita' didattica A
M-FIL/02 - LOGIC AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica B
M-FIL/02 - LOGIC AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Unita' didattica C
M-FIL/02 - LOGIC AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
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