The course is among the characterizing activities of the MA Programme in Philosophical Sciences. It examines themes lying at the borders between our scientific knowledge of the natural world and the philosophical questions raised by the attempt to comprehend the fundamental structure of reality. Through the reading and critical discussion of both advanced texts in the philosophy of science and classic texts in the history of scientific thought, the basic assumptions and import of physics and the other natural sciences will be examined. At a more general level, the course aims to strengthen the competences that are necessary to formulate and evaluate philosophical arguments. At the end of the course, students will have acquired:
- an improved understanding and ability to critically analyse philosophical arguments, in particular about science;
- knowledge of significant episodes in the historical development of modern and contemporary science;
- improved communication and argumentation skills, especially in connection to the issues dealt with during the course;
- ability to read and evaluate the sources of the debate and its most recent developments, both in Italian and in English;
- better presentation and writing skills, in Italian and possibly in English.
- an improved understanding and ability to critically analyse philosophical arguments, in particular about science;
- knowledge of significant episodes in the historical development of modern and contemporary science;
- improved communication and argumentation skills, especially in connection to the issues dealt with during the course;
- ability to read and evaluate the sources of the debate and its most recent developments, both in Italian and in English;
- better presentation and writing skills, in Italian and possibly in English.
teacher profile teaching materials
Module A: The nature of knowledge
What is knowledge? What justifies our beliefs? The traditional conception of knowledge and its limits. The foundations of knowledge: foundationalism, coherentism and infinitism about justification.
Module B: The scope of knowledge
The problem of skepticism, and the 'Cartesian' arguments in favour of skepticism about the external world. Overview of attempts to resist skepticism with respect to the external world.
Robert Audi: Epistemologia. Un'introduzione alla teoria della conoscenza, Quodlibet, 2016. (English version: Epistemology: A Contemporary Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge, Routledge, 2010). Introduction and chapters 1-12.
Tommaso Piazza: Che cos'è la conoscenza, Carocci, 2017, chapters 1-4.
Clotilde Calabi, Annalisa Coliva, Andrea Sereni, Giorgio Volpe (eds.): Teorie della conoscenza. Il dibattito contemporaneo, Raffaello Cortina, 2015. Parts I and II (chapters 1-10).
Modulo B
Audi, chapters 13-15.
Piazza, chapter 5.
Calabi et al., Part III (chapters 11-15).
Annalisa Coliva: Scetticismo. Dubbio, paradosso, conoscenza, Laterza, 2012.
Programme
Introduction to epistemology: the nature and scope of knowledgeModule A: The nature of knowledge
What is knowledge? What justifies our beliefs? The traditional conception of knowledge and its limits. The foundations of knowledge: foundationalism, coherentism and infinitism about justification.
Module B: The scope of knowledge
The problem of skepticism, and the 'Cartesian' arguments in favour of skepticism about the external world. Overview of attempts to resist skepticism with respect to the external world.
Core Documentation
Module ARobert Audi: Epistemologia. Un'introduzione alla teoria della conoscenza, Quodlibet, 2016. (English version: Epistemology: A Contemporary Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge, Routledge, 2010). Introduction and chapters 1-12.
Tommaso Piazza: Che cos'è la conoscenza, Carocci, 2017, chapters 1-4.
Clotilde Calabi, Annalisa Coliva, Andrea Sereni, Giorgio Volpe (eds.): Teorie della conoscenza. Il dibattito contemporaneo, Raffaello Cortina, 2015. Parts I and II (chapters 1-10).
Modulo B
Audi, chapters 13-15.
Piazza, chapter 5.
Calabi et al., Part III (chapters 11-15).
Annalisa Coliva: Scetticismo. Dubbio, paradosso, conoscenza, Laterza, 2012.
Type of delivery of the course
The lectures are expected to be traditional classroom lectures. However, changes may be required in order to comply with the COVID-19 safety regulations. In particular, lectures might take place in the form of distance learning through the University platforms.Type of evaluation
The students are invited (not required) to give presentations. A 3-4000 words essay must be written on a topic to be agreed upon with the lecturer. The final exam will be written, unless required otherwise by the COVID-19 safety regulations. Grades (corresponding to 12 credits) will be recorded via GOMP, starting from the first session after the end of the lectures.