Introduction to Metaphysics
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course aims at introducing students to the area of metaphysics, as it is understood in contemporary philosophy. Among the topics that may be addressed: free will, the nature of normativity, the existence of God, the mind-body problem, personal identity.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
- Knowledge and understanding of some of the main problems in metaphysics, as well as of the solutions put forward in the literature.
- Knowledge and understanding of background theories and conceptual apparatus.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- Ability to critically evaluate the theoretical options in question.
- Ability to apply the tools introduced to other problems, both within philosophy and outside of philosophy.
- Knowledge and understanding of some of the main problems in metaphysics, as well as of the solutions put forward in the literature.
- Knowledge and understanding of background theories and conceptual apparatus.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
- Ability to critically evaluate the theoretical options in question.
- Ability to apply the tools introduced to other problems, both within philosophy and outside of philosophy.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course cannot be attended as a single course. Please check our list of single courses to find the ones available for enrolment.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
In the "Continuation des pensées diverses sur la comète" Bayle, commenting on the notion of atheism, links it to three theses: (1) that no human effort can alter, even minimally, the predetermined course of events, (2) that none of the things that happen can ultimately be considered good or bad, and (3) that the ultimate cause of things has no preference for any of its children, does not concern itself with punishing immorality, and does not care to reward virtue. In this course, we will discuss all three of these theses, focusing on recent literature and on the contribution that the sciences offer to evaluate them.
In the first part of the course (40 hours, 6 CFU), we will first reflect on what various scientific disciplines can tell us about the existence and nature of free will, and then move on to the so-called "evolutionary debunking" of normative realism; in the second part (20 hours, additional 3 CFU), we will instead focus on various versions of the argument from intelligent design for the existence of God (also known as "teleological argument", "physico-theological argument" and "a posteriori argument").
Recordings and lecture slides will be made available to non-attending students.
In the first part of the course (40 hours, 6 CFU), we will first reflect on what various scientific disciplines can tell us about the existence and nature of free will, and then move on to the so-called "evolutionary debunking" of normative realism; in the second part (20 hours, additional 3 CFU), we will instead focus on various versions of the argument from intelligent design for the existence of God (also known as "teleological argument", "physico-theological argument" and "a posteriori argument").
Recordings and lecture slides will be made available to non-attending students.
Prerequisites for admission
No specific preliminary notion required.
Teaching methods
Lectures
Teaching Resources
The following list is provisional. The final list will be available in the final version of the program, which will be published before the end of the classes.
Reference material for the first part of the course (40 hours, 6 ECTS credits):
1a. Christian List, Why Free Will Is Real (readily available in any bookstore).
1b. Andrea Guardo, L'evoluzione della morale per selezione naturale (readily available in any bookstore), chapters 1-4, 7-9, and 11.
1c. The content of the lectures for the first part of the course (audio on myAriel, slides on the instructor's website, at the address https://sites.google.com/view/andreaguardo/insegnamento).
Reference material for the second part of the course (20 hours, additional 3 ECTS credits):
2a. The content of the lectures for the second part of the course (audio on myAriel, slides on the instructor's website).
2b. There are no mandatory readings for the second part of the course. However, it is strongly recommended to read Elliott Sober's "The Design Argument" (on myAriel), skipping §§ 2.2, 2.5, 2.9, 3.1-3.2, 4.3, 4.5, 4.7, 4.11-4.12, and the entire § 5; also skip the second paragraph on p. 13, from "The quantity Pr(E) on the right-hand side of Bayes's theorem deserves a comment" to the end of § 2.4.
For Non-attending Students:
There are no supplementary readings for non-attending students, who are simply required to listen to the recordings of the lectures.
Reference material for the first part of the course (40 hours, 6 ECTS credits):
1a. Christian List, Why Free Will Is Real (readily available in any bookstore).
1b. Andrea Guardo, L'evoluzione della morale per selezione naturale (readily available in any bookstore), chapters 1-4, 7-9, and 11.
1c. The content of the lectures for the first part of the course (audio on myAriel, slides on the instructor's website, at the address https://sites.google.com/view/andreaguardo/insegnamento).
Reference material for the second part of the course (20 hours, additional 3 ECTS credits):
2a. The content of the lectures for the second part of the course (audio on myAriel, slides on the instructor's website).
2b. There are no mandatory readings for the second part of the course. However, it is strongly recommended to read Elliott Sober's "The Design Argument" (on myAriel), skipping §§ 2.2, 2.5, 2.9, 3.1-3.2, 4.3, 4.5, 4.7, 4.11-4.12, and the entire § 5; also skip the second paragraph on p. 13, from "The quantity Pr(E) on the right-hand side of Bayes's theorem deserves a comment" to the end of § 2.4.
For Non-attending Students:
There are no supplementary readings for non-attending students, who are simply required to listen to the recordings of the lectures.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The exam is written and consists of two groups of questions. The questions in the first group are short-answer and aim to assess the understanding of the fundamental concepts; those in the second group require a more elaborate response and focus on more complex issues. To pass the exam, it is necessary to obtain at least a satisfactory score in both groups of questions. Both groups of questions cover topics explained in class as well as issues discussed exclusively in the course texts.
Students with learning disabilities (DSA) and/or disabilities who intend to request a modification of the exam procedures should agree, as soon as possible, on the details of the case with the instructor and the competent office, following scrupulously the procedures described at the following links (in the section Support for teaching and contact with instructors - compensatory measures):
https://www.unimi.it/it/studiare/servizi-gli-studenti/servizi-studenti-con-dsa
https://www.unimi.it/it/studiare/servizi-gli-studenti/servizi-studenti-con-disabilita
An example of an acceptable concept map for the exam is available on the instructor's website.
The exam can be taken starting from the first session after the conclusion of the course and for a total of seven sessions.
Students with learning disabilities (DSA) and/or disabilities who intend to request a modification of the exam procedures should agree, as soon as possible, on the details of the case with the instructor and the competent office, following scrupulously the procedures described at the following links (in the section Support for teaching and contact with instructors - compensatory measures):
https://www.unimi.it/it/studiare/servizi-gli-studenti/servizi-studenti-con-dsa
https://www.unimi.it/it/studiare/servizi-gli-studenti/servizi-studenti-con-disabilita
An example of an acceptable concept map for the exam is available on the instructor's website.
The exam can be taken starting from the first session after the conclusion of the course and for a total of seven sessions.
M-FIL/01 - THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Guardo Andrea
Professor(s)