History of Biological Sciences and Medicine
A.Y. 2026/2027
Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with a general comprehension of the development of scientific thought in the field of the medical-biological disciplines through the study of some historically significant cases. The course may be useful for the conception, organization and coordination of cultural activities and projects concerning the history of scientific disciplines.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding:
At the end of the course the students will be able to:
- illustrate some fundamental phases of the research in the medical-biological disciplines of the past
- recognize the lexicon of some important medical-biological disciplines considered in their historical development
- exemplify the relationships connecting the history of the medical-biological thought to the history of philosophy, to religion and theology, to political history, to society, and to culture.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
At the end of the course the students will be able to:
- apply the learnt knowledge in historically situating authors and texts of the medical-biological disciplines.
- use the learnt knowledge about the lexicon of the medical-biological disciplines in the analysis and discussion of texts and problems.
- apply the learnt knowledge about the relationships connecting the history of the medical-biological disciplines with other fields of knowledge to the analysis and discussion of texts and problems.
At the end of the course the students will be able to:
- illustrate some fundamental phases of the research in the medical-biological disciplines of the past
- recognize the lexicon of some important medical-biological disciplines considered in their historical development
- exemplify the relationships connecting the history of the medical-biological thought to the history of philosophy, to religion and theology, to political history, to society, and to culture.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
At the end of the course the students will be able to:
- apply the learnt knowledge in historically situating authors and texts of the medical-biological disciplines.
- use the learnt knowledge about the lexicon of the medical-biological disciplines in the analysis and discussion of texts and problems.
- apply the learnt knowledge about the relationships connecting the history of the medical-biological disciplines with other fields of knowledge to the analysis and discussion of texts and problems.
Lesson period: Second semester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
The course aims to explore six key moments in the history of the biological sciences, organized into six corresponding teaching units. It will begin with the intellectual debates of antiquity, focusing on the contrasting views of materialists and anti-materialists regarding the origin and nature of living beings. The course will then examine the development and use of mechanical analogies in the interpretation of the living world during the early modern period. This will be followed by an analysis of the debates surrounding the uniqueness (whether real or presumed) of biological phenomena within the framework of the natural sciences of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The course will subsequently address the emergence of evolutionary approaches to life, concluding with an examination of the molecularization of biological phenomena and the recent biotechnology revolution.
Prerequisites for admission
No specific competences are required.
Teaching methods
Lectures, discussions, and sharing of teaching materials on Myariel.
Teaching Resources
Common syllabus for the 6 and 9 ECTS programs:
-First part:
Simonetta A. 2003, Breve storia della Biologia dalle origini al XX secolo, Firenze: Firenze University Press, Chapter 1; Lucrezio, 2019, La natura delle cose. Book V, Mondadori Edition.
-Second part:
Simonetta, Chapter II; Aristotele, 2018, La Vita (ed. D. Lanza, M. Vegetti), Bompiani. Introduction, pp. XXXIII-XLVII.
-Third part:
Simonetta, Chapter VIII; Cartesio, 2010, Discorso sul Metodo, Mondadori Edition, Part V. Cartesio, 1969, Il Mondo, Part V, L'uomo, Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Laterza Edition.
-Fourth part:
Simonetta, Chapter IX; Kant, 1997, Critica del Giudizio, Laterza Edition (§61-§68, pp. 225-251).
9 ECTS
-Fifth part:
Simonetta, Chapters X-XI, pp. 319-407; Darwin, 2011, L'origine delle specie. Bollati Boringhieri. Introduction, Chapters 3, 4, and 11.
-Sixth part:
Keller E. F. 1996, Vita, Scienza & Cyberscienza, Garzanti, Chapters 2 and 3, pp. 55-122.
For non-attending students enrolled in the 6 and 9 ECTS, in addition to the indicated syllabus, the following book is required: Barsanti G., 2005, Una lunga pazienza cieca. Storia dell'evoluzionismo, Einaudi, Turin, Chapters I-XIV.
-First part:
Simonetta A. 2003, Breve storia della Biologia dalle origini al XX secolo, Firenze: Firenze University Press, Chapter 1; Lucrezio, 2019, La natura delle cose. Book V, Mondadori Edition.
-Second part:
Simonetta, Chapter II; Aristotele, 2018, La Vita (ed. D. Lanza, M. Vegetti), Bompiani. Introduction, pp. XXXIII-XLVII.
-Third part:
Simonetta, Chapter VIII; Cartesio, 2010, Discorso sul Metodo, Mondadori Edition, Part V. Cartesio, 1969, Il Mondo, Part V, L'uomo, Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Laterza Edition.
-Fourth part:
Simonetta, Chapter IX; Kant, 1997, Critica del Giudizio, Laterza Edition (§61-§68, pp. 225-251).
9 ECTS
-Fifth part:
Simonetta, Chapters X-XI, pp. 319-407; Darwin, 2011, L'origine delle specie. Bollati Boringhieri. Introduction, Chapters 3, 4, and 11.
-Sixth part:
Keller E. F. 1996, Vita, Scienza & Cyberscienza, Garzanti, Chapters 2 and 3, pp. 55-122.
For non-attending students enrolled in the 6 and 9 ECTS, in addition to the indicated syllabus, the following book is required: Barsanti G., 2005, Una lunga pazienza cieca. Storia dell'evoluzionismo, Einaudi, Turin, Chapters I-XIV.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral exam: The exam is divided into two parts. The first part, of a general nature, consists of an interview aimed at assessing students' knowledge and critical understanding of the main topics covered during the course. The second part, more specific in focus, involves an in-depth discussion of one of the six teaching units, selected by the student. For non-attending students, the exam discussion will also take into account the additional monograph included in the syllabus.
Modules or teaching units
Parte A e B
PHIL-02/B - History of Science and Technology - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Parte C
PHIL-02/B - History of Science and Technology - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)
Reception:
Thursday 11am - 1pm (To arrange a meeting, please reach out to me via email)
Second floor. Cortile Ghiacciaia.