00388 - Philosophy of Science (M-Z)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course students will be aware of the ways of construing the notion of truth and have a semantic notion of the same. They will be able to tackle complex themes like the relation between truth and natural language, or to harness their philosophical know-how to the social sciences and to formulating a scientific explanation.

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:

• 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 oral exam as non-attending students are required to read additional material *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 or other texts recommended by the instructor. The student's choice of texts must be validated by the instructor before the oral examination.

N.B.: The lecture slides, available on Virtuale, are subject to oral examination for both attending and non-attending students.

Teaching methods

Lectures with the use of slides on all of the topics of the course, with plenty of time devoted to the students' questions. Recap lectures with open questions to verify the achievement of the learning outcomes. 

Assessment methods

The exam consists of two parts.

First part

The first part is a written test, with 15 multiple-choice questions. Correct answer: +2; incorrect answer: -0.5; no answer: 0. The written test is considered passed with a score of at least 18/30. 
N.B.: Passing the written test grants one admission to the oral exam in any subsequent session. The admission grade to the oral exam is that of the latest passed test. Failing the oral exam requires taking the test again.

Second part

The second part is an oral exam, reserved for those who pass the written test. The oral exam can result in a final grade in the range of -6/+6 points relative to the score of the test, based on the following criteria 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.

Exam sessions

During the 2025/2026 academic year, written exams are scheduled in the following months, for all students:

• January, February, May, June, July, September

During the 2025/2026 academic year, oral exams are scheduled in the following months, for all students:

• January, February, May, June, July, September, December

 Students with Disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders are entitled to special accommodations based on their condition, following an assessment by the University's Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the instructor directly; instead, schedule an appointment with the Service. The Service will determine the appropriate accommodations. More information is available at:
https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti

It is strongly recommended to contact the University Service well in advance. Any accommodations must be submitted to the instructor for approval at least 15 days in advance and will be assessed in light of the course's learning objectives.

Teaching tools

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

Office hours

See the website of Lorenzo Casini