00981 - History of Science (F-N)

Learning outcomes

Students are introduced to the main historical developments of pre-modern and modern sciences in their social, cultural, and political contexts.

Course contents

The course takes place in semester 1 and provides a general introduction to the history of science through an analysis of the transformation of the concepts of natural, preternatural and supernatural in the early modern period. It will explore how the changing nature of these categories and the phenomena inscribed within it had for the emergence of modern science. The course will examine in detail the concepts of natural/artificial, scientific 'facts', experience, observation, interpretation of signs, sensible evidence.

Together with these themes we will investigate the spaces, themes and actors that marked important milestones in the development of modern history.

Among the topics we will address we will focus on places of knowledge production (universities, courts, academies, laboratories, etc.), the relationship between science and religion and science and war, the creation and development of scientific collections and museums, the study of the human body, issues of gender and science, the relationship between science and our environment.

 

The second part of the course will be dedicated to reading together a classic author, in this case Francis Bacon. We will read together the New Atlantis and selected passages from other works by Bacon contained in the UTET edition.

Additional information about the course will be communicated through the VLA Virtuale platform were course materials will be uploaded.

Readings/Bibliography

Part I General introduction:

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

L. Daston and K. Park, Wonders and the Order of Nature, 1150-1750 (Zone Books, 2001), Chs. 3, 4 and 6.

Part II Primary sources:

F. Bacone, The New Atlantis and The Masculine Birth of Time, in Scritti Filosofici, a cura di P. Rossi (UTET, 2009, or any other edition). The volume includes  a rich selection of  texts from which I will draw in class.

Students who choose NOT TO ATTEND the course should read all remaining chapters of:

L. Daston and K. Park, Wonders and the Order of Nature, 1150-1750(Zone Books, 2001) 

Teaching methods

The course will be mainly delivered through lectures, during which the professor will introduce the main texts and concepts of the course. Powerpoint slides and other material that will be used to explicate the material will be made available during the semester. At the end of any class there will be time to ask questions or comment on the material presented in the course.

Assessment methods

The exam consists of an oral examination aimed at assessing the methodological and critical skills acquired during the semester. The examination will focus both on the secondary literature presented in class (Part I), and the analysis of the primary sources (Part II). The student will be invited to discuss the texts covered during the course and to contextualise them in their historical period. 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.

 

Exam sessions
During the 2025/2026 academic year, exam sessions are scheduled in the following months: December, January, March, May, June, September.

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

 Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders have the right to special adjustments according to their condition, following an assessment by the Service for Students with Disabilities and SLD. Please do not contact the instructor but get in touch with the Service directly to schedule an appointment. It will be the responsibility of the Service to determine the appropriate adjustments. For more information, visit the page: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students . It is recommended that students contact the University office in advance. Any proposed adjustments must be submitted at least 15 days in advance for the instructor’s approval, who will evaluate their appropriateness in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

Teaching tools

slides; links to websites and online resources.

Office hours

See the website of Monica Azzolini