20704053 - NEUROETHICS

The course on neuroethics is part of the teaching activities of the curriculum in Scienze Cognitive della Comunicazione e dell’Azione. The course aims at introducing and discussing the basic notions of neuroethics, an interdisciplinary research field at the interplay between moral philosophy, moral psychology and cognitive (neuro)science. In particular, the course will focus on the cognitive and motivational basis of moral reasoning and judgment.

The aim of the course is to provide students with the tools for understanding, analyzing and discussing philosophical and scientific texts on the course topics, learning to navigate the contemporary debate. By the end of the course, students are supposed to have acquired a basic knowledge of the main topics in the field of neuroethics and a more in-depth knowledge of selected topics, and to be able to efficiently navigate the relevant literature.


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Programme

The course will present and discuss basic notions of neuroethics, an interdisciplinary research fields at the interplay between moral philosophy, moral psychology, and cognitive neuroscience. In particular, the course will focus on the topic of moral cognition, investigating the basis of moral reasoning, motivation, choice, and judgment.

Students will acquire:
- Capacity to read an analyze texts
- Capacity to navigate the contemporary debate on the bases and mechanisms of moral cognition
- Capacity to orally present and defend theses

Core Documentation

Written exam - please, consult "Moodle-Annunci" or contact the instructor in case of doubts
FOR STUDENTS WHO ATTEND THE COURSE, THE PROGRAM INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING TEXTS:
1 – A. Lavazza, V. Sironi (eds.), 2022, Neuroetica, Carocci (selected parts);
2 – M. Tomasello (2016) Storia naturale della morale umana, Raffaello Cortina Editore;
3 – Booklet including short excerpts from various texts, including: F. Nietzsche (2017) Genealogia della morale, Adelphi; A. Damasio (1995) L’errore di Cartesio, Adelphi.

Written exam - please, consult "Moodle-Annunci" or contact the instructor in case of doubts
FOR STUDENTS WHO DO NOT ATTEND THE COURSE, THE PROGRAM INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING TEXTS:
1 – A. Lavazza, V. Sironi (eds.), 2022, Neuroetica, Carocci (whole text);
2 – M. Tomasello (2016) Storia naturale della morale umana, Raffaello Cortina Editore;
3 – Booklet including short excerpts from various texts, including: F. Nietzsche (2017) Genealogia della morale, Adelphi; A. Damasio (1995) L’errore di Cartesio, Adelphi.


Type of delivery of the course

The course is made up of lectures and debates encouraging students' participation.

Attendance

Attendance in not mandatory but strongly recommended. The program for students who do not attend classes includes some additional texts.

Type of evaluation

The verification of learning will take place via a written exam.