Teaching Workshop: Philosophy of Biology: Paths and Problems in Today's Life Sciences
A.Y. 2020/2021
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
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 laboratory, which was originally designed for face-to-face teaching.
Online environments used:
Ariel: https://aparravicinilfbpposv.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/Home/
(access reserved for members only)
TEAMS: code available on Ariel
Any updates to the schedule will be posted in Ariel.
Didactic Methods:
Teacher's lessons will be held in the first part of the workshop by online synchronous lectures using Teams. These lessons will be recorded and available on the Ariel website, together with the PDF slides of the course. The second part of the workshop will be mainly devoted to the presentation of the (individual or in group) research carried out by the students. During this phase, face-to-face lessons will be preferred, if possible, to favor the group activities and the active participation of the students to the discussions and debates.
Online environments used:
Ariel: https://aparravicinilfbpposv.ariel.ctu.unimi.it/v5/Home/
(access reserved for members only)
TEAMS: code available on Ariel
Any updates to the schedule will be posted in Ariel.
Didactic Methods:
Teacher's lessons will be held in the first part of the workshop by online synchronous lectures using Teams. These lessons will be recorded and available on the Ariel website, together with the PDF slides of the course. The second part of the workshop will be mainly devoted to the presentation of the (individual or in group) research carried out by the students. During this phase, face-to-face lessons will be preferred, if possible, to favor the group activities and the active participation of the students to the discussions and debates.
Course syllabus
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, such as, e.g., those concerning the standard structure of the evolutionary theory and its possible reform towards an extended and multilevel synthesis, the debate on phyletic gradualism and punctuated equilibria, the role of macro-evolutionary patterns and processes within the evolutionary theory and the hierarchy theory of evolution, and the theoretical consequences brought about by those debates on the main hypotheses and interpretations characterizing the paleoanthropological field. Furthermore, some crucial biological notions and significant theoretical problems will be discussed from a philosophical point of view, such as, e.g., those concerning the notions of "species", "evolutionary contingency", "cause" or "individual" in biology, the form - function dialectic, which is related to the notions of "adaptation", "exaptation" and "spandrels", up to the main problems related to the evolutionary origin of the symbolic intelligence, human language, altruism and cooperative behaviors.
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 workshop 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.
The practical course is open to all students of the degree course in Philosophy and of the master degree in Philosophical sciences.
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 workshop 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.
The practical course is open to all students of the degree course in Philosophy and of the master degree in Philosophical sciences.
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 be encouraged to 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 the course.
Pievani T., Introduzione alla filosofia della biologia, Laterza, Roma-Bari 2005.
Further texts and articles on more specific topics will be suggested during the course.
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 or 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. Students will not receive a specific grade for the workshop (pass/fail only).
Attendance is compulsory.
This practical course provides the attribution of 3 CFU
Attendance is compulsory.
This practical course provides the attribution of 3 CFU
Professor(s)
Reception:
Monday, h 15,00-18,00
Please contact me by email (andrea.parravicini@unimi.it) to make an appointment - I receive at the Department of Philosophy, Ice House Courtyard, II floor - alternatively on Teams