PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

L00930

Academic Year of enrolment:

2020

Year of supply:

2020/2021

Type of Course:

Related/Supplementary

Degree:

Course of 1st Cycle Degree in LINGUISTIC MEDIATION AND INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Disciplinary Sector:

LOGIC AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE

Location:

PESCARA

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

CASADIO Claudia

Cycle:

First semester

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

Prerequisites:

None

Objectives

The course is intended as an introduction to the fundamental arguments
of contemporary Philosophy of Science. Basic notions of logic, reasoning
and problem solving are presented, by considering relevant authors and
theoretical models.
The course aims at allowing students to critically reflect on the proposed
subjects (e.g. objectivity, truth, analyticity, realism, theoretical
assumptions, empirical observations, innovation, models), acquiring the
ability to connect them to open problems of contemporary science and
technology, with particular reference to the fields of linguistics,
translation and interpretation.

Contents

The course is devoted to subjects and authors of contemporary
Philosophy of Science like Hempel, Popper, Kuhn, Feyerabend, connecting
them to fundamental authors in history of philosophy (Aristotle, Bacon,
Locke, Leibniz, Descartes, Kant, Husserl); particular attention is paid to
logical positivism or logical empiricism, by considering authors like Frege,
Russell, Carnap, Wittgenstein, and the debate about realism vs.
antirealism.
Attention will be also given to contemporary linguistic theories (Skinner,
Chomsky, Jackendoff) and to the problems of computation and artificial
intelligence (AI).
Aim of the course is allowing the students to critically reflect on the
proposed subjects, also by means of appropriate readings, acquiring the
ability to connect them to open problems of contemporary science and
technology.

Extended Syllabus

The course is devoted to subjects and authors of contemporary
Philosophy of Science like Hempel, Popper, Kuhn, Feyerabend, connecting
them to fundamental authors in history of philosophy (Aristotle, Bacon,
Locke, Leibniz, Descartes, Kant, Husserl); particular attention is paid to
logical positivism or logical empiricism, by considering authors like Frege,
Russell, Carnap, Wittgenstein, and the relations to theoretical linguistics
and cognitive science (Skinner, Chomsky, Jackendoff).
The following subjects will be particularly addressed: developments from
logical empiricism to contemporary debate; verificationism vs.
falsificationism; experience and scientific theorization; scientific
revolution and progress; language of science and natural language;
linguistic sciences and cognitive sciences.
Aim of the course is allowing the students to critically reflect on the
proposed subjects, also by means of appropriate readings, acquiring the
ability to connect them to open problems of contemporary science and
technology.

Recommended Bibliography

Students are required to study a textbook and four essays chosen from a
collected book or available at the university e-learning platform.
A) TEXTBOOK:
J. Ladyman, Filosofia della scienza. Un'introduzione, Carocci, Roma.
Alternatively:
S. Okasha, Il primo libro di filosofia della scienza, Einaudi, Torino
B) FOUR essays chosen from the book:
G. Boniolo et al. (a cura di), Filosofia della scienza. Raffaello Cortina,
Milano.
(Two of which have to be chosen among the following authors: Peirce,
Russell, Carnap, Hempel, Popper, Khun, Feyerabend).
Alternatively, students can choose FOUR papers from those presented
during lessons and available at the University e-learning site (at least two
of which must be written in English).
C) For further readings see:
C. CASADIO, Logica, Informazione, Automazione, Prime Vie Editore,
Corfinio (AQ)
Slides, papers and informations are available at the e-learning page:
https://elearning.unich.it/enrol/index.php?id=415

Teaching Methods

Lectures will consist in presentations supported by slides and on line or
paper contents, divided into two parts: 1) General introduction to the
course subject and the relevant theoretical concepts: textbook, slides and
other material prepared by the teacher. 2) Monographic part, devoted to
the developments of linguistic science: computation, artificial
intelligence, cognition, evolution; readings: authors papers and other
critical essays.
Slides and readings are available at the university e-learning site.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

The final exam consists in an oral presentation devoted to the discussion of the relevant topics of the textbook, the selected papers and other materials of the course. Students are invited to prepare a presentation, organized with the teacher, concerning arguments such as: scientific theory, truth, meaning, interpretation, model, realism, mind, body, world relation, innatism, monism vs. dualism. Students are required to connect the mentioned
subjects to the fields of linguistic theory, translation and interpretation.
The final evaluation is unique and is given on base 30. Grades 30 and 30
cum Laude are assigned for excellence results, both on the theoretical
and the critical side, including the way in which arguments are presented.
The exam is the same for all the students, independently from their attendance.

Contacts/More Information

teacher e-mail: claudia.casadio@unich.it
== e-learning site FDES:
https://elearning.unich.it/enrol/index.php?id=415

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

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