- Docente: Marco Ciardi
- Credits: 6
- SSD: M-STO/05
- Language: Italian
- Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
- Campus: Bologna
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Corso:
Second cycle degree programme (LM) in
Philosophical Sciences (cod. 8773)
Also valid for Second cycle degree programme (LM) in History and Oriental Studies (cod. 8845)
Learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student acquires critical tools to:
interpret primary and secondary sources on the history of
scientific thought (contextualized in the philosophical culture,
technical, socio-political, institutional of their time);
perform archival research; produce various kinds of papers
(reviews, critical, articles, essays).
Course contents
The course will be devoted to the analysis of the history of idea of extraterrestrial life, from Galileo Galilei to the contemporary science. Particular attention will be paid to the analysis of the role of
science and technology in contemporary democracies, and to the
relationship between science and other forms of knowledge and communication (philosophy, religion, magic,
literature, art, cinema, comics, etc.).
Readings/Bibliography
1) A. Fantoli, Extraterrestri. Storia di un'idea dalla Grecia a oggi, Roma, Carocci, 2008.
2) M. Ciardi, Il mistero degli antichi astronauti. Gli extraterrestri nel passato, Roma, Carocci, 2017.
3) M. Ciardi, Galileo e Harry Potter. La magia puo' aiutare la scienza?, Roma, Carocci, 2014.
Teaching methods
The teaching method may vary in relation to the number, demands and inclinations of students. It may therefore shift from the traditional lecture to open discussion involving participants, and the presentation of papers
Assessment methods
The exam will take the form of an oral discussion and the student will be assessed according to the knowledge he has acquired, his ability to provide a clear summary of the topics covered and his critical handling of the material. He will be expected to refer to both the exam bibliography and the texts read and discussed during the lectures.
The assessment will concentrate particularly on the skill displayed by the student in handling the sources and material in the exam bibliography and his ability to find and use information and examples to illustrate and correlate the various themes and problems addressed in the course.
The assessment will thus examine the student's:
- factual knowledge of the subject;
- ability to summarise and analyse themes and concepts;
- familiarity with the terminology associated with the subject and his ability to use it effectively.
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 if he displays significant errors in his understanding and failure to grasp the overall outlines of the subject, together with a poor command of the appropriate terminology.
Teaching tools
Teaching will use power point, both for the specific indication of
themes and works, both for viewing images (artwork, maps, etc.).
There will be a wide consultation of texts and materials on the
Web.
Links to further information
http://www.unibo.it/docenti/marco.ciardi
Office hours
See the website of Marco Ciardi