20710177 - THEMES OF PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

The course of Topics in the Philosophy of Science is part of the program in Philosophical sciences (MA level) and is included among the complementary training activities.This course introduces some central questions in the philosophy of science and examines them critically. Through the study of classic and/or contemporary texts, students will acquire advanced knowledge of problems at the boundary between science and philosophy. They will also obtain the ability to systematically relate the philosophical and scientific tradition to the most recent developments in these areas.
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Programme

By presenting the different approaches to probability (classical, frequentist, propensities-oriented, subjectivist and logistist), the course focuses on the philosophy of probability and its application to the natural and social sciences. The idea that motivates the course has been well expressed by the great economist Keynes, namely that probability is the true guide to our lives. The course will show how even a rudimental knowledge of the theory of probability is indispensable to reason in a correct way and therefore predict as reliably as possible the uncertain course of our individual future and that of society

Core Documentation

Hykel Hosni, Come smettere di preoccuparsi e iniziare ad amare l’incertezza, Carocci, Roma, 2018
Hacking I, Introduzione alla probabilità e alla logica induttiva, Il Saggiatore, Milano, 2005
Aczel .A Chance ( Il caso).Dai giochi d'azzardo agli affari di cuore. Cortina, Milano, 2005
Notes provided by the instructor


Reference Bibliography

Reference Darrell Rowbottom Probability¸ Polity Press, 2015 D. Gillies, Philosophical Theories of Probability, Routledge, 2000 Childers, T. Philosophy of probability, OUP

Type of delivery of the course

Frontal lectures, and students’ reports on parts of the program

Type of evaluation

Short papers to be presented in seminars and a longer paper to be discussed during the oral examination