Teaching Workshop: Philosophy of Biology: Paths and Problems in Today's Life Sciences
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
The workshop aims to examine the basic concepts and some of the problems currently at the center of the debates in philosophy of biology, in order to spread the active interest of the students towards this discipline and to promote the acquisition of some of the leading ideas, conceptual tools and issues of this research area. Furthermore, the workshop intends to stimulate and refine the aptitude for critical thinking and philosophical debate and the capacity to elaborate autonomous perspectives and paths of study. To this end, students will be required to prepare brief written or oral presentations related to the topics of the workshop.
Expected learning outcomes
The workshop aims to develop the following skills:
Critical thinking skills:
By the end of the workshop, students will display a sufficiently independent critical approach in selecting and interpreting the notions that are most relevant their area of study and to the broader socio-cultural context in which they operate
Communication skills:
By the end of the workshop:
- students will be able to effectively communicate the acquired knowledge and disseminate it to the general public;
- student will have developed basic IT skills concerning knowledge preservation and transfer.
Learning skills:
By the end of the workshop, students will have developed the learning skills required to continue their studies in keeping with their own research interests. In order to meet this objective, students will also develop relevant skills in the independent interpretation of sources and in the use of basic IT tool for bibliographic research.
Critical thinking skills:
By the end of the workshop, students will display a sufficiently independent critical approach in selecting and interpreting the notions that are most relevant their area of study and to the broader socio-cultural context in which they operate
Communication skills:
By the end of the workshop:
- students will be able to effectively communicate the acquired knowledge and disseminate it to the general public;
- student will have developed basic IT skills concerning knowledge preservation and transfer.
Learning skills:
By the end of the workshop, students will have developed the learning skills required to continue their studies in keeping with their own research interests. In order to meet this objective, students will also develop relevant skills in the independent interpretation of sources and in the use of basic IT tool for bibliographic research.
Lesson period: Second semester
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
Classes are held exclusively in face-to-face mode. Students must refer to the provisions of the University:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/teaching-activities-campus
Students are invited to consult and follow the Rector's Decrees and the information reported on the webpage dedicated to urgent measures for the university community.
https://www.unimi.it/en/coronavirus-urgent-measures-university-community
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/teaching-activities-campus
Students are invited to consult and follow the Rector's Decrees and the information reported on the webpage dedicated to urgent measures for the university community.
https://www.unimi.it/en/coronavirus-urgent-measures-university-community
Course syllabus
* Module "Philosophy of Biology: Paths and Problems in Today's Life Sciences."
The main concepts and topics concerning the philosophy of biology, especially those related to the theory of evolution, will be presented to the participants. A series of problems characterizing the current biological sciences will be analyzed from a scientific and philosophical point of view. Specific case-studies related to relevant biological and evolutionary investigations in the current discussions in philosophy of biology will be discussed during the workshop. The presented topics and case-studies will be mainly related to the current and historical debates in the evolutionary field and human evolution. Furthermore, some crucial biological notions and significant theoretical problems will be discussed from a philosophical point of view.
The presentation of the case-studies will be followed by philosophical analyses and discussions in which the whole class will be involved. A series of bibliographical references will be provided during the lab and will be used by the students to prepare oral or written presentations related to the covered topics. Each participant will carry out and present to the class a short research work, to be done in a group or individually, on issues related to the arguments presented by the teacher.
* Module "Bibliographical Research and Writing a Scientific Philosophical Text."
-Methodologies, techniques and tools of bibliographic research
-Writing a scientific philosophical text
Calendar:
Friday 11/3 h.10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 18/3 h.10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 25/3 h.10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 1/4 h.10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 8/4 h.10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 22/4 h.10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 29/4 h. 10:30 - 12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 06/5 h.10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 13/5 h. 10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 20/5 h. 10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
To attend this workshop make the pre-registration as indicated in the Workshops section of the Philosophy website:
https://filosofia.cdl.unimi.it/en/courses/workshops
The main concepts and topics concerning the philosophy of biology, especially those related to the theory of evolution, will be presented to the participants. A series of problems characterizing the current biological sciences will be analyzed from a scientific and philosophical point of view. Specific case-studies related to relevant biological and evolutionary investigations in the current discussions in philosophy of biology will be discussed during the workshop. The presented topics and case-studies will be mainly related to the current and historical debates in the evolutionary field and human evolution. Furthermore, some crucial biological notions and significant theoretical problems will be discussed from a philosophical point of view.
The presentation of the case-studies will be followed by philosophical analyses and discussions in which the whole class will be involved. A series of bibliographical references will be provided during the lab and will be used by the students to prepare oral or written presentations related to the covered topics. Each participant will carry out and present to the class a short research work, to be done in a group or individually, on issues related to the arguments presented by the teacher.
* Module "Bibliographical Research and Writing a Scientific Philosophical Text."
-Methodologies, techniques and tools of bibliographic research
-Writing a scientific philosophical text
Calendar:
Friday 11/3 h.10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 18/3 h.10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 25/3 h.10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 1/4 h.10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 8/4 h.10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 22/4 h.10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 29/4 h. 10:30 - 12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 06/5 h.10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 13/5 h. 10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
Friday 20/5 h. 10:30-12:30, room M301 S. Sofia
To attend this workshop make the pre-registration as indicated in the Workshops section of the Philosophy website:
https://filosofia.cdl.unimi.it/en/courses/workshops
Prerequisites for admission
No previous knowledge required
Teaching methods
Presentation of the main concepts and significant case studies by the teacher; debate and discussion with the participants, that will be invited to elaborate reflections and own paths of autonomous research. The students will be expected to work in groups in order to prepare and present to the class short reports, followed by a debate in which all the participants will be involved. Based on the gathered materials, the students will prepare a written text to be delivered to the teacher as a final product of their own work of research.
Teaching Resources
Borghini A., Casetta E., Filosofia della biologia, Carocci, Roma 2013.
Pievani T., Introduzione alla filosofia della biologia, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2005.
Further texts and articles on more specific topics will be suggested during meetings
Pievani T., Introduzione alla filosofia della biologia, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2005.
Further texts and articles on more specific topics will be suggested during meetings
Assessment methods and Criteria
In order to pass, students are required to actively participate in practical in-class activities and to prepare a short oral and written presentation. The evaluation will be carried out on the basis of the autonomy of judgment and the capacity for philosophical-scientific elaboration, the ability to communicate and express, even with information technology, the autonomy in the use of sources and bibliographic and IT tools base for scientific research and updating, the ability to synthesize and correct writing, the ability to cooperate in a work group. Students will not receive a specific grade for the workshop (pass/fail only).
Attendance is compulsory.
This workshop provides the attribution of 3 CFU
Attendance is compulsory.
This workshop provides the attribution of 3 CFU
Laboratorio Professionalizzante
- University credits: 2
Humanities workshops: 20 hours
Professor:
Parravicini Andrea
Ricerca Bibliografica e redazione di un testo scientifico filosofico
- University credits: 1
Humanities workshops: 16 hours
Professor:
Ceron Annalisa Antonia
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday, 9.15-12.15. Please, write an e-mail to arrange an appointment.
Teams and/or office
Reception:
Monday, h 15,00-18,00
Please contact me by email ([email protected]) to make an appointment - I receive at the Department of Philosophy, Ice House Courtyard, II floor - alternatively on Teams