27984 - Philosophy of Science (LM)

Learning outcomes

Philosophy of science analyzes scientific knowledge, its aims, methods and conceptual foundation. Main topics of concern for philosophers of science are: the nature of scientific laws and theories, explanation, prediction, causality, the structure of scientific reasoning.
Through the accurate exam of the ongoing debate on explanation and causality, the student will get acquainted with the specificity of philosophy of science as an autonomous discipline.

Course contents

The course will deal with "Explanation and causality". The major theories of explanation put forward in the literature in the philosophy of science will be illustrated and discussed. The second part of the course will offer a survey of a number of theories of causation that are the object of ongoing debate.

Readings/Bibliography

 R. Campaner e M.C. Galavotti,La spiegazione scientifica: modelli e problemi,Archetipolibri-CLUEB, 2012; R. Campaner, ed., La causalità tra filosofia e scienza, Archetipolibri, seconda edizione 2012.

Students who do not know Italian can read: S. Psillos, Causation and Explanation, Acumen, 2002.
W.C. Salmon, Four Decades of Scientific Explanation, 1989.

Teaching methods

The course will be held in the second semester and will start on January 30, 2017.
Timetable: Monday, Tuersday, Wednesday, 11a.m. to 1 p.m. Room VII, via Zamboni 38, Ground floor.

A number of experts will be invited to expand on some of topics addressed during the lectures.

Assessment methods

Exams will be oral.
Students who will volunteer to write papers will be allowed a reduced reading load.

Teaching tools

The course will consist in a series of lectures, supported by power point presentations.
Students will be invited to take active part in the course by giving presentations and/or writing papers on topics strictly related with the programme.

Office hours

See the website of Maria Carla Galavotti