00388 - Philosophy of Science (M-Z)

Learning outcomes

Philosophy of science is a discipline located at the crossroads of mathematics, logic, and natural sciences. Primarily concerned with the foundations of scientific knowledge, it explores the mathematical form of scientific theories, the adequacy of scientific models and methods, the character of natural laws, the structure of explanations. Students will be guided to acquire the basic instruments and language for addressing these issues.

Course contents

The course provides a deep introduction to the key concepts and fundamental issues of the philosophical discourse on science. The didactic path begins with a description of the birth of modern science, and then delves into themes such as the nature of scientific theories, the analysis of the scientific method, and the demarcation between science and pseudoscience. A particular focus will be placed on the evolution of scientific theories, examining how theories develop and are accepted or rejected over time, and how our idea of "scientific progress" depends on the interpretation of these dynamics. The debate between scientific realists and anti-realists will be addressed, analyzing the influence of these positions on the perception of scientific truth.

During the course, topics such as the concept of evidence, hypothesis confirmation, natural kinds, laws of nature, scientific reductionism, probability and causality, and statistical and causal inference will also be discussed.

Finally, a part of the course will be devoted to a highly relevant, contemporary topic: trust in science. In an era characterized by an enormous availability of information and media polarization of opinions on the ethical implications of scientific research and its impact on society, it is essential to understand what reasons can justify our trust in science. The course shall examine reliability criteria of scientific knowledge, the role of experts, scientific institutions, and values such as transparency and scientific communication.

The course aims to provide tools for critically understanding science and reflecting on the public's relationship with science, highlighting the importance of an informed and critical society towards scientific practice.

Readings/Bibliography

Mandatory readings:

• lecture slides
• Peter Godfrey-Smith, Theory and Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science (it. trans. Silvia Tossut), Raffaello Cortina, 2022.
• James Ladyman, Philosophy of Science (it. trans. Tommaso Piazza), Carocci, 2007.
• Naomi Oreskes, Why Trust Science? (it. trans. Bianca Bertola), Bollati Boringhieri, 2021.

Optional readings:

• Maria Cristina Amoretti and Davide Serpico, Philosophy of Science: Key Words, Carocci, 2022.
• Alan F. Chalmers, What Is This Thing Called Science? (4th ed.), Hackett Publishing Company, 2013.
• Angela Potochnik, Science and the Public, Cambridge University Press, 2024.

Readings for non-attendees:

Those who take the exam as non-attending students are required to read additional material (up to a maximum of 100 pages) *in addition* to the mandatory texts mentioned above. This material will consist of texts to che chosen by the student from the articles, contributions, excerpts, encyclopedia entries, etc. indicated on the slides during the lectures. All additional texts will be made available on the Virtuale platform. The student's choice of texts must be validated by the instructor before the oral examination.

Teaching methods

Lectures with the use of slides. Discussions and debates on the main topics, also starting from students' prompts. Analysis and commentary of texts.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of two parts.

First part: written test, with 15 multiple-choice questions. Correct answer: +2; incorrect answer: -1; no answer: 0.

Second part: oral exam, reserved for those who pass the written test.

The written test is considered passed with a score of at least 9/15. The oral exam can result in a grade in the range of -6/+6 points relative to the score of the test. To obtain honours, the test must be passed with a score of at least 14/15.

N.B.: Passing the written test allows one to take the oral exam in any subsequent session. However, if the oral exam is not passed, the test must be repeated.

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As for the oral exam, the following achievements will be evaluated in increasing order of importance:

1. completeness of acquired knowledge strictly related to the programme;
2. appropriateness of language;
3. personal ability to re-elaborate and use learned concepts;
4. ability to approach interdisciplinary reflections;
5. ability to apply learned topics to specific research cases and produce independent and original reflections.

1-2 are minimum objectives for a passing grade.
1-3 will lead to a fair evaluation.
1-4 may lead to a good or excellent evaluation.
1-5 may lead to an excellent evaluation.

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders are entitled to special adjustments according to their condition, subject to assessment by the University Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact teachers or Department staff, but make an appointment with the Service. The Service will then determine what adjustments are specifically appropriate, and get in touch with the teacher. For more information, please visit the page:
https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti

Teaching tools

Slides and other digital materials will be used during the lessons and uploaded to the university's teaching platform Virtuale.

Office hours

See the website of Lorenzo Casini