Introduction to Metaphysics
A.Y. 2026/2027
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, discussing the notion of atheism, relates it to three theses: (1) that no human effort can alter, even in the slightest degree, the predetermined course of events; (2) that none of the things that happen can ultimately be regarded as good or bad; and (3) that the ultimate cause of things shows 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 theses, focusing on recent literature and on the contribution that the sciences make to their evaluation—with particular attention to ideas, hypotheses, and findings drawn from game theory, evolutionary theory, and probability theory.
In the first part of the course (40 hours, 6 ECTS credits), we will first reflect on what various scientific disciplines can tell us about the existence and nature of free will, before turning to the so-called "evolutionary debunking" of normative realism. In the second part (20 hours, an additional 3 ECTS credits), we will instead focus on various versions of the argument from intelligent design for the existence of God (also known as the "teleological argument," the "physico-theological argument," and the "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 ECTS credits), we will first reflect on what various scientific disciplines can tell us about the existence and nature of free will, before turning to the so-called "evolutionary debunking" of normative realism. In the second part (20 hours, an additional 3 ECTS credits), we will instead focus on various versions of the argument from intelligent design for the existence of God (also known as the "teleological argument," the "physico-theological argument," and the "a posteriori argument").
Recordings and lecture slides will be made available to non-attending students.
Prerequisites for admission
No specific prior knowledge is required.
Teaching methods
Lectures with a dialogical approach.
Teaching Resources
Reference Materials for the First Part of the Course (40 hours, 6 ECTS credits)
1a. Christian List, Why Free Will Is Real (readily available in bookstores), Introduction and Chapters 1-2 and 4.
1b. Andrea Guardo, L'evoluzione della morale per selezione naturale (readily available in bookstores), excluding Chapters 5 and 10; also omit the text from p. 102 up to the first paragraph on p. 106.
1c. The content of the lectures from the first part of the course (audio recordings on myAriel; slides available on the instructor's website at https://sites.google.com/view/andreaguardo/insegnamento).
Reference Materials for the Second Part of the Course (20 hours, additional 3 ECTS credits)
2a. The content of the lectures from the second part of the course (audio recordings on myAriel; slides available on the instructor's website).
2b. There are no mandatory readings for the second part of the course. However, students are strongly encouraged to read Elliott Sober, The Design Argument (available on myAriel), omitting §§ 2.2, 2.5, 2.9, 3.1-3.2, 4.3, 4.5, 4.7, 4.11-4.12, and the entirety of § 5; also omit the second paragraph on p. 13, namely from "The quantity Pr(E) on the right-hand side of Bayes's theorem deserves a comment" to the end of § 2.4.
Non-attending Students
There are no additional readings for non-attending students, who are simply required to replace attendance with listening to the recordings of the lectures.
1a. Christian List, Why Free Will Is Real (readily available in bookstores), Introduction and Chapters 1-2 and 4.
1b. Andrea Guardo, L'evoluzione della morale per selezione naturale (readily available in bookstores), excluding Chapters 5 and 10; also omit the text from p. 102 up to the first paragraph on p. 106.
1c. The content of the lectures from the first part of the course (audio recordings on myAriel; slides available on the instructor's website at https://sites.google.com/view/andreaguardo/insegnamento).
Reference Materials for the Second Part of the Course (20 hours, additional 3 ECTS credits)
2a. The content of the lectures from the second part of the course (audio recordings on myAriel; slides available on the instructor's website).
2b. There are no mandatory readings for the second part of the course. However, students are strongly encouraged to read Elliott Sober, The Design Argument (available on myAriel), omitting §§ 2.2, 2.5, 2.9, 3.1-3.2, 4.3, 4.5, 4.7, 4.11-4.12, and the entirety of § 5; also omit the second paragraph on p. 13, namely from "The quantity Pr(E) on the right-hand side of Bayes's theorem deserves a comment" to the end of § 2.4.
Non-attending Students
There are no additional readings for non-attending students, who are simply required to replace attendance with listening to the recordings of the lectures.
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination is oral, lasts approximately thirty minutes, and consists of three types of questions. The first type, with which the examination begins, is aimed at assessing the student's understanding of the fundamental concepts. The second type consists of more advanced questions concerning the material covered in class. Finally, the third type is designed to assess students' study of the required readings; students are therefore expected to bring the assigned texts with them to the examination (shared copies are permitted, of course, but they must be in print form).
The examination consists of five questions, each graded on a scale from 0 to 6 points. Scores of 6, 5, 4, 1, and 0 are characterized as follows (intermediate scores are, of course, possible):
6 points: detailed and error-free answer; correct use of terminology.
5 points: substantially correct answer, though not fully detailed and/or containing some inaccuracies; possible imprecision in the use of terminology.
4 points: overall satisfactory answer, although content-related errors and/or misuse of terminology are present.
1 point: some of the required knowledge is demonstrated and terminology is used to some extent, but the answer is substantially incorrect.
0 points: none of the required knowledge is demonstrated.
Students with learning disabilities (DSA) and/or disabilities who wish to request accommodations for the examination must arrange the details of their case as early as possible with the instructor and the relevant university office, following carefully the procedures described at the following links (under "Support for teaching and communication 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 examination purposes is available on myAriel (with thanks to student AFC).
Students who, for any reason, wish to take the examination earlier or later than scheduled must find another student with whom to swap examination slots. The examination schedule is finalized as follows: on the day after registration closes, I will send an email asking you to confirm your attendance at the examination (if you have swapped slots with someone, please notify me). The following morning, I will prepare and circulate the examination schedule. Students who do not confirm their attendance by replying to my email will have to appear in person at the examination session and will be added to the end of the list. This procedure is necessary due to the high number of students who fail to attend the examination without withdrawing their registration.
The examination may be taken starting from the first examination session following the conclusion of the course and for a total of seven examination sessions.
The examination consists of five questions, each graded on a scale from 0 to 6 points. Scores of 6, 5, 4, 1, and 0 are characterized as follows (intermediate scores are, of course, possible):
6 points: detailed and error-free answer; correct use of terminology.
5 points: substantially correct answer, though not fully detailed and/or containing some inaccuracies; possible imprecision in the use of terminology.
4 points: overall satisfactory answer, although content-related errors and/or misuse of terminology are present.
1 point: some of the required knowledge is demonstrated and terminology is used to some extent, but the answer is substantially incorrect.
0 points: none of the required knowledge is demonstrated.
Students with learning disabilities (DSA) and/or disabilities who wish to request accommodations for the examination must arrange the details of their case as early as possible with the instructor and the relevant university office, following carefully the procedures described at the following links (under "Support for teaching and communication 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 examination purposes is available on myAriel (with thanks to student AFC).
Students who, for any reason, wish to take the examination earlier or later than scheduled must find another student with whom to swap examination slots. The examination schedule is finalized as follows: on the day after registration closes, I will send an email asking you to confirm your attendance at the examination (if you have swapped slots with someone, please notify me). The following morning, I will prepare and circulate the examination schedule. Students who do not confirm their attendance by replying to my email will have to appear in person at the examination session and will be added to the end of the list. This procedure is necessary due to the high number of students who fail to attend the examination without withdrawing their registration.
The examination may be taken starting from the first examination session following the conclusion of the course and for a total of seven examination sessions.
Modules or teaching units
Parte A e B
M-FIL/01 - THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Parte C
M-FIL/01 - THEORETICAL PHILOSOPHY - University credits: 3
Lessons: 20 hours
Professor(s)