04541 - History of Scientific Thought

Learning outcomes

The course proposes the acquisition of knowledge regarding the history of scientific thought and regarding the problems of the relationship between science and society, which are useful in the education of future Cultural operators.

Course contents

Themes to be discussed:
The historiographical debate regarding the Scientific Revolution; theoretical and practical knowledge from the Renaissance to the Age of Enlightenment; the Ptolemaic vision of the universe and the astronomical revolution from Copernicus to Newton; the consideration of nature in mathematical terms, and new scientific instruments; living bodies and machines; the dilation of time and space; fossils and the age of the earth; theories of the generation; modern science, religion, and freedom of research; science and the environment; science and genre, science and ethics.

Readings/Bibliography

Compulsory texts for all students:
Paolo Rossi, La nascita della scienza moderna in Europa, Roma-Bari, Laterza, 2000, 1st ed. 1997.
Paola Govoni, Che cos'è la storia della scienza, Roma, Carocci, 2004.

One text to be chosen from the following:
Francesco Bacone, La Nuova Atlantide, ed. by P. Rossi, Milano, TEA, 1991 (other editions: Rusconi, a c. di P. Guglielmoni; Bulzoni, ed. by L. Punzo).
Galileo Galilei, Sidereus Nuncius, ed. by A. Battistini, Venezia, Marsilio, 1993.
Berthold Brecht, Vita di Galileo, ed. by E. Castellani, Torino, Einaudi, 2001 (1st ed. 1963); students are advised to read the introduction and to avoid other editions)
Dava Sobel, Longitudine, Milano, Rizzoli, 2005
Pietro Redondi, Galileo eretico, Torino, Einaudi, 2004 (1st ed. 1983)
Roy Porter, Breve ma veridica storia della medicina, Roma, Carocci, 2004
Marco Ciardi, Atlantide.Una controversia scientifica da Colombo a Darwin, Roma, Carocci, 2002
Paolo Mazzarello, Costantinopoli: la congiura e la beffa. L'intrigo Spallanzani, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2004.
John Banville, La notte di Keplero, Parma, Guanda, 2002 (1st ed. 1993).
Marta Cavazza, 'Dottrici' e lettrici dell'Università di Bologna nel Settecento, «Annali di storia delle università italiane», 1, 1997, pp.109-125; Una donna nella Repubblica degli scienziati. Laura Bassi e i suoi colleghi, in Scienza a due voci (ed. by R. Simili), Firenze, Olschki, 2006, pp. 61-85.
Paola Bertucci, Viaggio nel paese delle meraviglie. Scienza e curiosità nell'Italia del Settecento, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2007.

Teaching methods

The first lessons will initially look at various general themes regarding the history of science and discussions regarding the relationships between science and society, science and ethics, science and genre. The more significant aspects of topics indicated in the programme will be gone into in-depth later. Students will be encouraged to pose questions and at the end of each lesson there will be time left in the discussion for topics introduced by the professor. A lesson with Dr. Paola Govoni on historiography and on the popularization of science is scheduled, as is a lesson with Dr. Paola Bertucci on the social role of experimental science in the Age of Enlightenment.
A guided visit to the collections of the Institute of Science of Bologna at the Museum of Palazzo Poggi will also be organized.

Assessment methods

The exam will be made up of a written test, with closed and open-ended questions on the texts used for the course.
The specific procedures of the test, both for those who attend lessons and those who do not, will be communicated to students at the end of the course with an in-class announcement, an announcement on the notice-board of the teacher's office, and on the web.
Students that have difficulty in regularly attending the course are asked to contact the professor.

Teaching tools

When possible, lessons will be accompanied by projections of images and texts.

Office hours

See the website of Marta Cavazza