94208 - History of Scientific and Pseudoscientific Theories

Learning outcomes

The course will focus on the history of pseduoscience from the Scientific Revolution to the present day. Particular attention will be paid to the so-called "Ancient Astronauts Theory", and its relationship with Science, Western and Eastern Philosophy and Religions, Magic, Literature, Art, Movies and Comics, etc.

Course contents

This course is an introduction to the history of western science and its main methodological aspects. It aims at reconstructing the main material, social, intellectual, and institutional factors that have characterized the emergence of European scientific thought since the Renaissance. The history of scientific instruments, of naturalistic collections, of the social, gender, cultural and economic roots of scientific knowledge, of the developments of technology and the relationships between arts and the sciences are the major themes. 

In the second part of the course we will focus on the relationships between technology, science, politics, nature, and the environment in the long period, from the middle ages to the contemporary world. More specifically, we will focus on the invention of the medieval watermill and its social impact; the gender dimension of the knowledge of nature during the scientific revolution; and the history of the consciousness of the effects on nature and the environment of the sciences and technologies. 

Readings/Bibliography

Part 1

Marco Beretta, Storia materiale della scienza. Dal libro ai laboratori, (seconda edizione riveduta e corretta) Roma: Carocci, 2017;

Marta Cavazza, "Strategie di potere e costruzione di nuovi soggetti femminili", in Id., Laura Bassi. Donne, genere e scienza nell’Italia del Settecento, Milano: Editrice Bibliografica, 2020 (pp. 217-255).

Part 2

Marc Bloch, "Avvento e conquiste del mulino ad acqua", in Id., Lavoro e tecnica nel Medioevo, Roma-Bari: Laterza, 2009 (pp. 73-107);

Carolyn Merchant, La morte della natura: donne, ecologia e rivoluzione scientifica, Milano: Editrice Bibliografica, 2022 (Introduzione, capitoli 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9);

Cristophe Bonneuil, Jean-Baptiste Fressoz, La terra, la storia e noi. L'evento antropocene, Roma: Treccani, 2016 (capitoli 5-11).

 

The syllabus is the same for students who attend and students who do not attend lectures.

Teaching methods

Lectures; participation and discussion will be encouraged.

Assessment methods

Oral exam.

Top marks (28-30) will be given to students who demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the material discussed in class and contained in the texts, critical and analytical skills, and the ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and cogently. Those students who will demonstrate a good knowledge of the material but tend to repeat it mechanically rather than demonstrate full understanding and the ability to build connections and present an argument will be rewarded with average to high marks (23-27). Students who demonstrate superficial knowledge, gaps in preparation, poor critical and analytical skills and difficulties of expression will receive average to low marks (18-22). Severe lacunae in one or more areas listed above could lead to the student repeating the exam.

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Savoia