- Docente: Giuliano Pancaldi
- Credits: 6
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Philosophy (cod. 0957)
Learning outcomes
The Laboratory aims at training students in the critical reading of texts of philosophical interest. Students are expected to become acquainted with the basic tools needed for writing papers on philosophical topics.
Course contents
The Laboratory will focus on a scientific classic - Charles Darwin's Origin of species (first edition: 1859) - which has exherted a major influence on philosophy, on science and religion issues, and on the social sciences. After reading several excerpts of the book, we will consider a number of texts that have argued for the philosophical relevance of Darwin's work, beginning with "Darwin's influence on philosophy" (1910) by the American pragmatist philosopher John Dewey. We will address also the controversies concerning the role that Darwin may have played in circulating a reductionist view in the philosophy of knowledge, and in nurturing 20th-century racism.
Readings/Bibliography
Charles Darwin, On the Origin of Species, 1st edition 1859, available free online at the following address: http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?itemID=F373&viewtype=text&pageseq=1;
John Dewey, "The influence of Darwin on philosophy" (1910) and other essays on the impact of Darwin's work will be made available through the e-learning website (see below).
Teaching methods
Active participation is required in class. Lectures will explore also the new tools offered by electronic editions for a critical reading of the text.
Assessment methods
At the end of the Laboratory students are required to write a paper on a topic agreed with the teacher.
Teaching tools
The Laboratory's e-learning website will be available here: https://elearning-cds.unibo.it/
Links to further information
https://elearning-cds.unibo.it/
Office hours
See the website of Giuliano Pancaldi