Biology and Society
A.Y. 2025/2026
Learning objectives
Students will develop knowledge and skills through related and complementary activities that, according to their philosophical interests, promote an interdisciplinary dialogue between historical and scientific fields. Special emphasis will be placed on the ideological and political dimensions that have shaped life sciences since the 19th century.
Expected learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- critically evaluate the origins of information and assess its reliability with reference to historical sources
- apply critical thinking and reasoning skills in a variety of complex historical and scientific contexts
- develop and effectively use interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills, including complex settings and collaborative group work
- convey acquired knowledge and competencies to non-specialist audiences, adapting language and communication methods appropriately
- reflect critically on their own skills, learning progress, and the outcomes of their academic work
- independently investigate a historical, philosophical, or theoretical position, demonstrating research and argumentative competence.
- critically evaluate the origins of information and assess its reliability with reference to historical sources
- apply critical thinking and reasoning skills in a variety of complex historical and scientific contexts
- develop and effectively use interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills, including complex settings and collaborative group work
- convey acquired knowledge and competencies to non-specialist audiences, adapting language and communication methods appropriately
- reflect critically on their own skills, learning progress, and the outcomes of their academic work
- independently investigate a historical, philosophical, or theoretical position, demonstrating research and argumentative competence.
Lesson period: Second 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
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course aims to introduce and critically analyze the ideological, political, and cultural implications associated with some of the most influential biological theories and doctrines developed between the 19th and 20th centuries. Through a historical-philosophical and interdisciplinary approach, it seeks to explore how specific biological ideas have influenced, and in turn been shaped by social, economic, and political contexts. The course will begin with an analysis of biological determinism as applied to human behavior and intelligence. It will then address the complex debate concerning social Darwinism and biologistic explanations of the origins of war. In the third part, particular attention will be devoted to the controversies surrounding sociobiology, a discipline that has attempted to explain human behavior in evolutionary terms, provoking intense reactions in both scientific and philosophical spheres. In the fourth part, the concepts of "norm" and "normality" will be examined in their interplay between medical sciences and social conventions. The course will also consider the concept of ecological imperialism, focusing on the biological and ecological dimensions of European colonial expansion. The final part of the course will be dedicated to the study of the philosophical and political connections between biology and technology, with particular attention to the doctrine according to which artifacts and technological products are to be understood as biological projections or externalizations.
The course will be structured into six thematic units. Each unit will revolve around the close reading, discussion, and in-depth analysis of a fundamental text. The texts are selected for their theoretical and historical contribution to one of the topics addressed and will be accompanied by complementary materials.
The course will be structured into six thematic units. Each unit will revolve around the close reading, discussion, and in-depth analysis of a fundamental text. The texts are selected for their theoretical and historical contribution to one of the topics addressed and will be accompanied by complementary materials.
Prerequisites for admission
Participants are not expected to have any background knowledge
Teaching methods
Lectures and discussions
Teaching Resources
For each thematic unit, a monograph will be analyzed and discussed, and students will be required to read the excerpts specified in the syllabus. At the end of the course, students must select one of the six proposed volumes for in-depth study; this volume will form the basis of the discussion in the second part of the oral examination. Non-attending students must instead select and study two volumes.
Common part for both 6 and 9 CFU
1) Gould S. J., 2016, Intelligenza e Pregiudizio: contro i fondamenti scientifici del razzismo, Il Saggiatore (Read Introduction and chapters 2, 3 and 4)
2) La Vergata A., 2005, Guerra e Darwinismo Sociale, Rubettino Editore (Read chapters 1, 3, 5 e 6)
3) Wilson E., 2022, Sulla natura umana, Piano B Edizioni (Read chapters 1, 2 and 5)
4) Canguilhem G., 1998, Il normale e il patologico, Einaudi (Read "part II", first 4 chapters and conclusion)
9 cfu
5) Crosby A., 1988, Imperialismo ecologico. Laterza (Read chapters 2, 8 e 9)
6) Clarizio E., 2024, La vita tecnica. Una filosofia biologica della tecnica, Mimesis (Read introduction and chapters 1 e 2)
Common part for both 6 and 9 CFU
1) Gould S. J., 2016, Intelligenza e Pregiudizio: contro i fondamenti scientifici del razzismo, Il Saggiatore (Read Introduction and chapters 2, 3 and 4)
2) La Vergata A., 2005, Guerra e Darwinismo Sociale, Rubettino Editore (Read chapters 1, 3, 5 e 6)
3) Wilson E., 2022, Sulla natura umana, Piano B Edizioni (Read chapters 1, 2 and 5)
4) Canguilhem G., 1998, Il normale e il patologico, Einaudi (Read "part II", first 4 chapters and conclusion)
9 cfu
5) Crosby A., 1988, Imperialismo ecologico. Laterza (Read chapters 2, 8 e 9)
6) Clarizio E., 2024, La vita tecnica. Una filosofia biologica della tecnica, Mimesis (Read introduction and chapters 1 e 2)
Assessment methods and Criteria
Attending students shall complete two assessment tasks. First, each student is required to present two chapters, selected from two different books corresponding to separate course modules. These presentations will be discussed during class sessions. The second assessment consists of an oral examination divided into two parts: a general section designed to assess the student's knowledge and critical understanding of key topics covered throughout the course; a more specific section focused on an in-depth discussion of one of the six course units, chosen by the student. Students who do not attend classes are required to complete the exam program by reading a second monograph, selected from the same list.
Modules or teaching units
Parte A e B
M-STO/05 - HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Parte C
M-STO/05 - HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)
Reception:
Thursday 11am - 1pm (To arrange a meeting, please reach out to me via email)
Second floor. Cortile Ghiacciaia.