The course aims to use the tools of epistemology to study communicative phenomena. To this end, we will first provide an introduction to the fundamental concepts of the theory of knowledge and the fundamental aspects of the scientific method. Some issues of social epistemology will then be addressed, such as epistemological disagreement, testimony and beliefs, the epistemology of experts.
At the end of the course, students will have acquired fundamental notions of philosophy of science and some tools to conduct the methodological and epistemological analysis of the communication models developed in various disciplinary sectors (such as cognitive science, psychology, ethology, theory of games).
At the end of the course, students will have acquired fundamental notions of philosophy of science and some tools to conduct the methodological and epistemological analysis of the communication models developed in various disciplinary sectors (such as cognitive science, psychology, ethology, theory of games).
teacher profile teaching materials
Mutuazione: 20711191 EPISTEMOLOGIA E COMUNICAZIONE- LM in Informazione, editoria, giornalismo LM-19 VIOLA MARCO
Programme
The Epistemology and Communication course aims to present some theoretical tools of epistemology (classical and social) and to consider their application to two spheres of communication: scientific and digital communication. The course will therefore be divided into three parts, to each of which two weeks will be devoted. The first part, Outlines of Epistemology, will address some classic themes from classical epistemology, e.g., logic and argumentative fallacies, and from social epistemology, e.g., witnessing or epistemic injustice. The second part, Communication in & of Science, will present some elements of the internal social structure of science, such as peer review and the division of cognitive labor, as well as the topic of scientific communication. Finally, the third part, Communication and Digital, will discuss issues such as the propagation of (dis)information through social networks, some ethical and welfare issues related to the architecture of certain platforms as well as the problem of deepfakes.Attendance
Attendance is not mandatory but is strongly recommended.Type of evaluation
All students will be required to submit to an oral examination. However, the course grade will be determined by 3 of the following activities: * performance of in-class exercises (for attending students only) * presentation in class (for frequent attendees only) * oral examination on three articles discussed in class (for frequent attendees only) * oral examination on a book (see the list of suggested readings) For example, then, an attending student's examination program might consist of (i)in-class exercises + (ii)lecture presentation + (iii)oral examination on one book/on three articles. On the other hand, for non-attenders, the exam program will be on three books of their choice, to be agreed with the lecturer via email.