18123 - History of Science and Technique

Academic Year 2020/2021

  • Docente: Marco Ciardi
  • Credits: 12
  • SSD: M-STO/05
  • Language: Italian
  • Moduli: Marco Ciardi (Modulo 1) Marco Ciardi (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in History (cod. 0962)

    Also valid for First cycle degree programme (L) in Anthropology, Religions, Oriental Civilizations (cod. 8493)

Learning outcomes

Students are taught to read primary and secondary sources critically concerning the history of science and technology, in relation to philosophy and literary culture, as well as to the political, social and institutional context of their time. By the end of the course they will be able to describe specific instances of scientific-cultural interaction, as well as to listen, understand and debate respectfully with different cultures and viewpoints, spotting tie-ups among the different disciplines.

Course contents

Course Title: Science, and Literature, Pseudoscience, and Imagination

What is science? Where is the boundary between science, pseudoscience and magic? What is the role of imagination in the construction of scientific knowledge? What are the relationships between science, technology, literature, movies and comics?

The first part of the course will be focused on the relationships between science, magic and fantasy, through an historical path aimed to understand the evolution of scientific knowledge from Scientific Revolution to Frankenstein (1543-1818).

The second part of the course (second module) will be focused on the history of Atlantis' myth. The Atlantis question was revived in modern times after the discovery of America. The controversy involved numerous scientists and scholars until the Enlightenment. In the course of the 1800s and 1900s, the interest for Atlantis did not at all decrease; quite the contrary, if possible, it grew even more, passing from science to pseudoscience, and becoming subject for novels, poems, movies, comics and videogames.

First module: From Scientific Revolution to Frankenstein

Lessons 1-3: Introduction to the course. Science and Magic, Science and Imagination, Science and Pseudoscience, Science and Literature.

Lessons 4-7: The Astronomical Revolution. Galileo Galilei. Science and Religion. Alchemy and Chemistry, the search of the Philosopher's Stone and Isaac Newton. Visionaries and Prophets.

Lessons 7-10: The Discovery of Time: Fossils, and Evolution.

Lessons: 11-15: Travel literature, Coleridge and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Mary Shelley and Frankenstein.


Second module: The Atlantis Myth

Lessons 1-3: From Plato to the Discovery of America.

Lessons: 4-7: The scientific debate from Kircher to Darwin.

Lessons: 8-11: From Science to Pseudoscience.

Lessons: 12-15: Literature, Science Fiction and Fantasy. Movies, Comics, and Videogames.

 

 

Readings/Bibliography

ATTENDING STUDENTS

First module (also addressed to the students of 8493 -ANTROPOLOGIA, RELIGIONI, CIVILTA' ORIENTALI (L) (12152 - STORIA DELLA SCIENZA E DELLA TECNICA (1)

1) P. Rossi, La nascita della scienza moderna in Europa, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1997 (solo i seguenti capitoli: Premessa, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13, 16, 17)

2) M. Ciardi, Galileo e Harry Potter. La magia può aiutare la scienza? Roma, Carocci, 2014.

3) Course material online (contact the teacher for the full list).

 

Full program (12 CFU)

1) P. Rossi, La nascita della scienza moderna in Europa, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1997 (solo i seguenti capitoli: Premessa, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13, 16, 17)

2) M. Ciardi, Galileo e Harry Potter. La magia può aiutare la scienza? Roma, Carocci, 2014.

3) M. Ciardi, Le metamorfosi di Atlantide. Storie scientifiche e immaginarie da Platone a Walt Disney, Roma, Carocci, 2011.

4) Course material online (contact the teacher for the full list).

NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS

6 CFU

1) P. Rossi, La nascita della scienza moderna in Europa, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1997 (solo i seguenti capitoli: Premessa, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13, 16, 17)

2) M. Ciardi, Galileo e Harry Potter. La magia può aiutare la scienza? Roma, Carocci, 2014.

3) Course material online (contact the teacher for the full list).

 

12 CFU

1) P. Rossi, La nascita della scienza moderna in Europa, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 1997 (only: Preface, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 13, 16, 17)

2) M. Ciardi, Galileo e Harry Potter. La magia può aiutare la scienza? Roma, Carocci, 2014.

3) M. Ciardi, Le metamorfosi di Atlantide. Storie scientifiche e immaginarie da Platone a Walt Disney, Roma, Carocci, 2011.

4) Course material online (contact the teacher for the full list).

 

 

 

Teaching methods

Teaching methods may vary in relation to the number, requests and interests of students. They will include traditional lectures, open discussions, and presentation of papers by the students. Course attendance is strongly recommended.

Assessment methods

The exam will take the form of an oral discussion. The student will be assessed according to the knowledge acquired, the ability to provide a clear summary of the topics covered, and critical handling of the material. The student will be expected to refer to both the exam bibliography and the texts read and discussed during the lectures.

The assessment will depend particularly on: 1) skill displayed in handling the sources and material in the exam bibliography; 2) ability to find and use information and examples to illustrate and correlate the various themes and problems addressed in the course.

Top marks will be awarded to a student displaying an overall understanding of the topics discussed during the lectures, combined with a critical approach to the material and a confident and effective use of the appropriate terminology.
Average marks will be awarded to a student who has memorized the main points of the material and is able to summarise them satisfactorily and provide an effective critical commentary, while failing to display a complete command of the appropriate terminology. A student will be deemed to have failed the exam in the case of significant shortcomings.

Evaluation levels:

30 cum laude: excellent performance showing soundness of knowledge, rich discursive articulation, appropriate expression, interest of critical contribution;

30: Excellent performance, complete, and appropriate knowledge, well-articulated and appropriately expressed, with interesting critical contributions;

29-27: Good performance, more than satisfactory knowledge, correct expression.

26-24: Standard performance, essential knowledge, but not comprehensive and / or not always correctly expressed;

23-21: Sufficient performance, general but superficial knowledge; often inappropriate expression and/or confused articulation of speech;

20-18: Poor performance, sufficient expression and articulation of speech with significant gaps;

< 18: Insufficient performance, knowledge absent or very incomplete, lack of orientation in the discipline, poor and seriously flawed expression.

Teaching tools

Teaching tools will include power points, web sources. 

Office hours

See the website of Marco Ciardi

SDGs

Quality education Affordable and clean energy Decent work and economic growth Climate Action

This teaching activity contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 Agenda.