2022/2023

2023/2024

DM270

M-FIL/05 (FILOSOFIA E TEORIA DEI LINGUAGGI)

DIPARTIMENTO DI SCIENZE DEL SISTEMA NERVOSO E DEL COMPORTAMENTO

PSYCHOLOGY, NEUROSCIENCE AND HUMAN SCIENCES

PERCORSO COMUNE

2°

Primo Semestre (02/10/2023 - 20/12/2023)

6

36 ore di attività frontale

INGLESE

SCRITTO E ORALE CONGIUNTI

SERENI ANDREA (titolare) - 2 CFU
DE TOFFOLI SILVIA - 2 CFU
TOMASETTA ALFREDO - 2 CFU

There are no formal prerequisites for this class. The class is designed so as to be accessible to students with no background in either philosophy
or logic. A familiarity with basic logic, however, while not necessary, can be helpful.

This course aims at developing knowledge and understanding in several key areas of Epistemology, basic Logic and Philosophy of Science:

a) Advanced knowledge of theoretical models and interpretation in the area of Epistemology, Logic, and Informal Reasoning

b) Development of critical thinking, analytical, and synthetic reasoning skills in the area of Epistemology, Logic, and Informal Reasoning

Furthermore, the course aims to cultivate the ability to apply this knowledge and understanding effectively by advancing students’ ability to:

a) perform and evaluate applications in the area of Epistemology and its interactions with informal and scientific reasoning

The course falls within the general area of Epistemology (Theory of Knowledge), and its interactions with issues concerning logical reasoning (formal and informal) and forms of inference traditionally studied within the Philosophy of Science.

The course is ideally comprised of three strongly connected parts.

(1) An introduction to traditional epistemology, exploring both the theory of knowledge -- starting from ancient definitions and leading to major contemporary proposals - and the theory of justification; special emphasis on the role of conceptual analysis and mental experiments in philosophical investigations.

(2) A discussion of basic themes concerning formal and informal reasoning (validity, soundness, fallacies, etc.), also including applications to essential problems for scientific reasoning - such as the problem of induction and its impact on scientific methodology.

(3) An introduction to social epistemology, extending the traditional analysis explored in the first part in order to tackle questions such as how we acquire information from others, what the epistemic significance of disagreement is, whether we should trust the experts, and whether it is possible (and useful) to ascribe knowledge directly to groups rather than to individuals.


By the end of the course students will have a working knowledge of classical debates in epistemology, and how they can be applied to everyday and scientific reasoning as well as to a better understanding of scientific methodology.

The course will mainly consists in lectures, to be integrated with group discussions on selected readings, as well as group exercises concerning epistemological puzzles and instances of correct logical reasoning and fallacies. Students' active interaction during classes will be especially encouraged. A PCL will be associated to the course so as to provide room for further group work and interactive teaching on related topics.

An essential reading list is the following:

Bowell, T. & Kemp, G. 2015. Critical Thinking. A Concise Guide, Routledge.
Goldman, A. and Whitcomb, D. (editors) 2011. Social Epistemology: Essential Readings, Oxford University Press
Okasha, S. 2016. Philosophy of Science, Oxford University Press, (2nd Edition).
Pritchard, D. 2006. What is this thing called knowledge?, Routledge.

These will be supplemented by selected papers and lectures slides

The exam will be a written examination with 4 open-ended questions. Each question is assessed on a 0-30 scale, and the final score is on a 0-30 scaled averaged on replies to the 4 questions. The exam duration is 2 hours. The exam will cover the material and topics explained and discussed during the lectures. The students' grades will be determined by the accuracy and clarity of their answers, as well as their ability to explain and critically apply the concepts taught throughout the course.

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