28111 - Epistemology of Human Science (1) (2nd cycle)

Learning outcomes

The course aims at providing a deep knowledge of the major issues tackled in the contemporary epistemological debate on the social sciences. The main methodological and conceptual aspects in history, archaeology, anthropology, economics, psychology and - partly - medicine are addressed. Students will get familiar with core debates in contemporary philosophy of the social sciences, and shall be able to analyse and discuss key topics on the construction of scientific knowledge in such disciplines.

Course contents

The course will deal with the most relevant epistemological issues in the debate on the methods and conceptual tools adopted in the social sciences. The main contemporary views concerning the status of the so-called social sciences, their relationships with the natural sciences, the meaning and use of laws, explanations and predictions in such disciplines as history, economics, archaeology, anthropology, psychology and, partly, medicine will be analysed and discussed. Reductionism/antireductionism and realism/antirealism issues with respect to such disciplines will be considered as well.

Lectures will take place is the IV period, in Via Zamboni 34, Room E, on Monday 3pm-5pm, Thursday 1pm-3pm, and Friday 11-1pm.  

Readings/Bibliography

1. M. Salmon, "Philosophy of the Social Sciences", in M. Salmon, J. Earman e a., Introduction to the Philosophy of Science, Prentice Hall, 1992, pp. 404-425. (Trad. it. in R. Campaner (a cura di), La spiegazione nelle scienze umane, Carocci, 2004, pp. 57-75). 

2. F. Machlup, "Are the Social Sciences Really Inferior", in M. Martin e L. McIntyre (a cura di), Readings in the Philosophy of Social Science, The MIT Press, 1994, pp. 5-19.

3. B. Fay e J.D. Moon, "What Would an Adequate Philosophy of Social Science Look Like", in M. Martin e L. McIntyre (a cura di), Readings in the Philosophy of Social Science, The MIT Press, 1994, pp. 21-35.

4. C. Taylor, "Interpretation and the Sciences of Man", in M. Martin e L. McIntyre (a cura di), Readings in the Philosophy of Social Science, The MIT Press, 1994, pp. 181-211.

5. M. Martin, “Taylor on Interpretation and the Sciences of Manâ€, in in M. Martin e L. McIntyre (a cura di), Readings in the Philosophy of Social Science, The MIT Press, 1994, pp. 259-279.

6. J. Watkins, "Historical Explanations in the Social Sciences", in M. Martin e L. McIntyre (a cura di), Readings in the Philosophy of Social Science, The MIT Press, 1994, pp. 441-450.

7 H. Kincaid, "There are Laws in the Social Sciences", in C. Hitchcock (a cura di), Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Science, Blackwell, 2004, pp. 168-185.

8 J.T. Roberts, "There are no Laws of the Social Sciences", in C. Hitchcock (a cura di), Contemporary Debates in Philosophy of Science, Blackwell, 2004, pp. 151-166.

9 J. Reiss, "Do We Need Mechanisms in the Social Sciences?", Philosophy of the Social Sciences 37, 2007, 163-184.

10 M. Salmon, "Causal Explanations of Behavior", Philosophy of Science 70, 2003, 720-738.

11 H. Kincaid, "Functionalism Defended", in Philosophical Foundations of the Social Sciences, Cambridge University Press, 1996, pp. 101-141.

12 C.G. Hempel, “The Function of General Laws in Historyâ€, in M. Martin e L. McIntyre (a cura di), Readings in the Philosophy of Social Science, The MIT Press, 1994, pp. 43-53.

13 M. Salmon, "On the Possibility of Lawful Explanation in Archaeology", in M. Martin e L. McIntyre (a cura di), Readings in the Philosophy of Social Science, The MIT Press, 1994, pp. 733-746

14 U. Mäki (1996), “Scientific Realism and Some Pecularities of Economics†(in R.S. Cohen, R. Hilinen e Q. Renzong (eds.), Realism and Anti †Realism in the Philosophy of Science , pp. 427 †447.)

 

15 T. Lawson (2001), “Two Responses to the Failings of Modern Economics: The Instrumentalist and the Realistâ€, Review of Population and Social Policy 10, 155 †181.

16  F. Guala e A. Salanti, "Theory, Experiments and Explanation in Economics", Revue Internationale de Philosophie 217, 2001, pp. 327-349.

Teaching methods

Classes will be partly devoted to a general introduction to the main topics as dealt with in the contemporary debate, and partly to a discussion of the texts to be read by the students in advance. Students are hence required to take active part in the course.

Assessment methods

The elaboration of an essay on one of the course's topics is required. The essay shall be handled in and then discussed with the lecturer.   

Assessment methods are meant to test whether the student has reached the aims of the course, and is hence able to address crtically the topics dealt with in the course, showing a mastery of the core notions and the specific language. 

Teaching tools

PowerPoint slides and/or handouts wil be used. Some papers will be uploaded on the course website.

Office hours

See the website of Raffaella Campaner