Introduction to Scientific Reasoning
A.Y. 2022/2023
Learning objectives
This course aims to provide students with the preliminary notions and practical skills required to understand the modes of argumentation that are typical of scientific reasoning.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
When completing this course students will be able to:
Recognize the logical structure of scientific arguments via examining general patterns of inference and their instantiation in historically significant examples.
Present the basic ideas underlying a scientific theory, paradigm or research programme.
Applying knowledge and undestanding
When completing the course students will be able to:
analyse a text that deals with scientific problems or philosophical issues concerning scientific theories.
apply the acquired notions and tools in case-studies of particular philosophical interest.
Making judgments
express an adequate level of autonomy in making judgments about the fundamental aspects of a scientific debate.
Communication skills
communicate clearly and in a focused and accurate way, avoiding obscure and vague phrasing and properly selecting the key elements.
esplicit the acquired skills and the underlying problematic aspects.
When completing this course students will be able to:
Recognize the logical structure of scientific arguments via examining general patterns of inference and their instantiation in historically significant examples.
Present the basic ideas underlying a scientific theory, paradigm or research programme.
Applying knowledge and undestanding
When completing the course students will be able to:
analyse a text that deals with scientific problems or philosophical issues concerning scientific theories.
apply the acquired notions and tools in case-studies of particular philosophical interest.
Making judgments
express an adequate level of autonomy in making judgments about the fundamental aspects of a scientific debate.
Communication skills
communicate clearly and in a focused and accurate way, avoiding obscure and vague phrasing and properly selecting the key elements.
esplicit the acquired skills and the underlying problematic aspects.
Lesson period: First 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
[L-Z]
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
During the ongoing covid emergency, the course syllabus will be maintained with the following changes made to enhance the effectiveness of the online version of the course, which was originally designed for face-to-face teaching.
The lessons will be held in dual mode. The face-to-face lessons will allow the participation of students connected with MSTeams as well as students in the classroom. The Teams code is the following: cb9os4r.
The recordings of the lessons will remain available for the entire semester.
Online environments used:
Moodle: available soon
Teams: available in Moodle
Students wishing to participate in face-to-face lessons must refer to the following University provisions: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/teaching-activities-campus
Students wishing to participate in MSTeams lessons must refer to the following technical guides: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/technology-and-online-services/microsoft-office-365-education
To participate in the exam sessions, students must refer to the following provisions:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/sitting-exams
The lessons will be held in dual mode. The face-to-face lessons will allow the participation of students connected with MSTeams as well as students in the classroom. The Teams code is the following: cb9os4r.
The recordings of the lessons will remain available for the entire semester.
Online environments used:
Moodle: available soon
Teams: available in Moodle
Students wishing to participate in face-to-face lessons must refer to the following University provisions: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/teaching-activities-campus
Students wishing to participate in MSTeams lessons must refer to the following technical guides: https://www.unimi.it/en/study/student-services/technology-and-online-services/microsoft-office-365-education
To participate in the exam sessions, students must refer to the following provisions:
https://www.unimi.it/en/study/bachelor-and-master-study/following-your-programme-study/sitting-exams
Course syllabus
Scientific inference
Logical patterns of mathematical reasoning
Probability
Scientific explanation
Paradigms and scientific revolutions
Philosophical problems in the empirical sciences
Logical patterns of mathematical reasoning
Probability
Scientific explanation
Paradigms and scientific revolutions
Philosophical problems in the empirical sciences
Prerequisites for admission
Preliminary notions are not required
Teaching methods
Frontal lectures, on-line group activities, exercises, selected readings from classics of science and philosophy of science. Besides the course bibliography, supplementary teaching material is uploaded on the Moodle platform.
Teaching Resources
S. Okasha, Il primo libro di filosofia della scienza, Einaudi, Torino 2006 (e successive ristampe/edizioni).
G. Boniolo et al., Filosofia della scienza, Raffaello Cortina, Milano 2002 (e successive ristampe/edizioni).
Supplementary material on Moodle platform.
Reference texts are the same both for attending and non-attending students
G. Boniolo et al., Filosofia della scienza, Raffaello Cortina, Milano 2002 (e successive ristampe/edizioni).
Supplementary material on Moodle platform.
Reference texts are the same both for attending and non-attending students
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written test both for attending and non-attending students. The exam is aimed at verifying knowledge and skills acquisition within the learning objectives of the course. It includes multiple choice questions and open questions with three difficulty levels:
* = easy
** = medium
*** = hard
Evaluation is as follows:
D fail = the candidate does not answer most questions labelled by *
C 2:2 (18-22) = the candidate answers most questions labelled by *
B 2:1 (23-28) = the candidate answers all questions labelled by * and most questions labelled by **
A first (29-30 e lode) = the candidate answers all questions labelled by * and **, and most questions labelled by ***
* = easy
** = medium
*** = hard
Evaluation is as follows:
D fail = the candidate does not answer most questions labelled by *
C 2:2 (18-22) = the candidate answers most questions labelled by *
B 2:1 (23-28) = the candidate answers all questions labelled by * and most questions labelled by **
A first (29-30 e lode) = the candidate answers all questions labelled by * and **, and most questions labelled by ***
M-FIL/02 - LOGIC AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
Sinigaglia Corrado
A-K
Responsible
Lesson period
First semester
Course syllabus
Scientific inference
Logical patterns of mathematical reasoning
Probability
Scientific explanation
Paradigms and scientific revolutions
Philosophical problems in the empirical sciences
Online teaching environment: https://mdagostinoirsak.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/home/Default.aspx
The 6 cfu course consists of the first 20 lectures (40 hours). The 9 cfu course consists of 30 lectures (60 hours).
Reconditions of the lectures will be available for the whole academic year.
There will be 2 special lectures devoted to students who are unable to attend the course. These will be recorded and made available in the Ariel site of the course.
Logical patterns of mathematical reasoning
Probability
Scientific explanation
Paradigms and scientific revolutions
Philosophical problems in the empirical sciences
Online teaching environment: https://mdagostinoirsak.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/home/Default.aspx
The 6 cfu course consists of the first 20 lectures (40 hours). The 9 cfu course consists of 30 lectures (60 hours).
Reconditions of the lectures will be available for the whole academic year.
There will be 2 special lectures devoted to students who are unable to attend the course. These will be recorded and made available in the Ariel site of the course.
Prerequisites for admission
Preliminary notions are not required
Teaching methods
Frontal lectures, on-line group activities, exercises, selected readings from classics of science and philosophy of science. Besides the course bibliography, supplementary teaching material is uploaded on the Moodle platform
Teaching Resources
S. Okasha, Il primo libro di filosofia della scienza, Einaudi, Torino 2006 (e successive ristampe/edizioni).
G. Boniolo et al., Filosofia della scienza, Raffaello Cortina, Milano 2002 (e successive ristampe/edizioni).
Supplementary material on Moodle platform.
G. Boniolo et al., Filosofia della scienza, Raffaello Cortina, Milano 2002 (e successive ristampe/edizioni).
Supplementary material on Moodle platform.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Written test both for attending and non-attending students. The exam is aimed at verifying knowledge and skills acquisition within the learning objectives of the course. It includes multiple choice questions and open questions with three difficulty levels:
* = easy
** = medium
*** = hard
Evaluation is as follows:
D fail = the candidate did not answer to most questions labelled by *
C 2:2 (18-22) = the candidate answers to most questions labelled by *
B 2:1 (23-28) = the candidate answers to all questions labelled by * and to most questions labelled by **
A first (29-30 e lode) = the candidate answers to all questions labelled by * and **, and to most questions labelled by ***
* = easy
** = medium
*** = hard
Evaluation is as follows:
D fail = the candidate did not answer to most questions labelled by *
C 2:2 (18-22) = the candidate answers to most questions labelled by *
B 2:1 (23-28) = the candidate answers to all questions labelled by * and to most questions labelled by **
A first (29-30 e lode) = the candidate answers to all questions labelled by * and **, and to most questions labelled by ***
M-FIL/02 - LOGIC AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE - University credits: 9
Lessons: 60 hours
Professor:
D'Agostino Marcello
Professor(s)
Reception:
Wednesday 10:00-13:00 and via Teams upon request
Head of Department's Office, Cortile d’Onore
Reception:
I am available for appointments any day. For urgent matters, I can be reached on Teams