OVERVIEW

After an integration of general contents of philosophy of science, we intend to provide an introduction to specific themes of philosophy of biology and physics.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

(1) to consolidate the knowledge of a logical-epistemological nature learned during the three-year course, deepening concepts such as deduction and induction, formal axiomatic system, scientific theories and models of explanation, theoretical change and scientific realism (2) introduce to some topics of philosophy of physics with particular reference to the development of the concepts of time, space and matter, linking them to the history of contemporary scientific thought (and not only) and to the philosophical reflections that accompany it.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

In the first part of the course, conducted by Prof. Luisa Montecucco, the general topics of the philosophy of science will be discussed, such as the relationship between philosophy and science, the notion of scientific theory, models of explanation, the nature of laws, etc. Some conceptions, such as those of finalism, determinism, reductionism, will be investigated in the context of the biological theory of evolution and its subsequent developments.
In the second part of the course, conducted by Prof. Nino Zanghi, the topics of philosophy of science will be addressed in the context of the historical-critical development of geometry, in its mathematical, physical and philosophical aspects, with particular reference to the relationship between the scientific image and the manifest image of the notion of geometric space. This part will end with a detailed analysis of the relationship between physics and experience according to Einstein.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

(I part)
Laudisa F., Datteri E. (2011) La natura e i suoi modelli. Un’introduzione alla filosofia della scienza, Bologna, Archetipolibri.
Mayr E. (2004) What Makes Biology Unique? [trad. it. L’unicità della biologia, Milano, Raffaello Cortina Editore, 2005].
Rose, S. (1997) Lifelines, New York, Oxford University Press [trad. it. Linee di vita. Oltre il determinismo, Milano, Garzanti, 2001].
(II part)
N. Zanghì, La Filosofia Naturale nel Suo Sviluppo Storico-Critico: Lo Spazio. (http://www.ge.infn.it/~zanghi/filo/fdf2015.html )
V. Allori, M. Dorato, F. Laudisa, N. Zanghì, La natura delle cose. Introduzione ai fondamenti e alla filosofia della fisica, Carocci, 2005.

Other bibliographic references will be proposed to the students during the lessons, both for possible class reports and for further study.
Non-attending students must contact the teachers via e-mail before the end of the lessons

(luisa.montecucco@unige.it - Nino.Zanghi@ge.infn.it).

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

PIERANTONIO ZANGHI' (President)

MARIA CRISTINA AMORETTI

MARCELLO FRIXIONE

MICHELE MARSONET

MARIA LUISA MONTECUCCO

LESSONS

LESSONS START

February 20, 2017

Class schedule

PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

EXAMS

Exam schedule