Teaching Workshop: Human Evolution and Philosophy
A.Y. 2021/2022
Learning objectives
Research on human evolution raises questions that have always been at the center of the philosophical debate, such as the place of the human being in nature, our origins, the relationship between humans and their environment, the phenomenon of human migrations, the relationship between culture and biology, the difference between human and non-human animals, the role of language, and so on. The workshop intends, on the one hand, to illustrate the most important concepts and problems for understanding the debates currently underway in the scientific field. On the other hand, it aims to place those concepts and problems under the lens of philosophical reflection in order to draw their theoretical and epistemological implications. The objective is to stimulate in students a wide and conscious philosophical interest in this area of research, while at the same time favoring the acquisition of some of the crucial ideas, conceptual tools and themes that are currently at the center of studies on human evolution. The aim of the meetings will also be to stimulate and refine in the participants, starting from case studies and concrete problems of scientific research, the aptitude for critical thinking and philosophical debate, and the ability to elaborate perspectives and autonomous study paths. For this purpose, students will be required to prepare short written or oral insights on 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 to 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;
- to provide students with the fundamental tools for writing a philosophical paper.
Learning skills:
By the end of the workshop, students will have developed the learning skills required to continue their studies in keeping with their research interests. To meet this objective, students will also develop relevant skills in the independent interpretation of sources and the use of basic IT tools 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 to 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;
- to provide students with the fundamental tools for writing a philosophical paper.
Learning skills:
By the end of the workshop, students will have developed the learning skills required to continue their studies in keeping with their research interests. To meet this objective, students will also develop relevant skills in the independent interpretation of sources and the use of basic IT tools 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 "Human Evolution and Philosophy"
The main concepts and issues of the human evolution research field will be presented to the participants in the workshop and put under the lens of philosophical reflection. Specific and concrete case-studies considered relevant for the most recent paleoanthropological and evolutionary investigations will be addressed. Particular attention will be paid to the transdisciplinary nature of this area of studies, and the philosophical meaning of its main issues will be discussed, together with their theoretical and epistemological implications.
The presentation of the case-studies will be followed by philosophical analyses and debates in which the whole class will be involved. A series of bibliographic references will be provided during the workshop that can be used by students to prepare written or oral presentations relating to the covered topics. Each student will have to carry out a short research work, to be prepared in a group or individually, on topics related to the topics covered by the teacher, and to be presented to the class in the manner that will be indicated during the laboratory
* Module "Bibliographical Research and Writing a Scientific Philosophical Text."
-Methodologies, techniques and tools of bibliographic research
-Writing a scientific philosophical text
Calendar:
Friday 18/2 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 25/2 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 11/3 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 18/3 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 25/3 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 1/4 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 8/4 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 22/4 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 29/4 h. 14,30-16,30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 06/5 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
To attend this workshop make the pre-registration as indicated in the Workshops section of the Philosophical Sciences website:
https://scienzefilosofiche.cdl.unimi.it/en/courses/workshops
The main concepts and issues of the human evolution research field will be presented to the participants in the workshop and put under the lens of philosophical reflection. Specific and concrete case-studies considered relevant for the most recent paleoanthropological and evolutionary investigations will be addressed. Particular attention will be paid to the transdisciplinary nature of this area of studies, and the philosophical meaning of its main issues will be discussed, together with their theoretical and epistemological implications.
The presentation of the case-studies will be followed by philosophical analyses and debates in which the whole class will be involved. A series of bibliographic references will be provided during the workshop that can be used by students to prepare written or oral presentations relating to the covered topics. Each student will have to carry out a short research work, to be prepared in a group or individually, on topics related to the topics covered by the teacher, and to be presented to the class in the manner that will be indicated during the laboratory
* Module "Bibliographical Research and Writing a Scientific Philosophical Text."
-Methodologies, techniques and tools of bibliographic research
-Writing a scientific philosophical text
Calendar:
Friday 18/2 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 25/2 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 11/3 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 18/3 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 25/3 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 1/4 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 8/4 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 22/4 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 29/4 h. 14,30-16,30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
Friday 06/5 h.14:30-16:30, Delta room (via Santa Sofia)
To attend this workshop make the pre-registration as indicated in the Workshops section of the Philosophical Sciences website:
https://scienzefilosofiche.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 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
T. Pievani, Homo sapiens e altre catastrofi: per un'archeologia della globalizzazione, Meltemi, Milano 2018 (seconda edizione aggiornata).
C. Di Martino, Viventi umani e non umani. Tecnica, linguaggio, memoria, Cortina, Milano 2017.
H. Gee, La specie imprevista, il Mulino, Bologna 2016.
C. Sini e T. Pievani, E avvertirono il cielo. La nascita della cultura, Jaca Book, Milano 2020.
Further texts and articles on more specific topics will be suggested during the meetings
C. Di Martino, Viventi umani e non umani. Tecnica, linguaggio, memoria, Cortina, Milano 2017.
H. Gee, La specie imprevista, il Mulino, Bologna 2016.
C. Sini e T. Pievani, E avvertirono il cielo. La nascita della cultura, Jaca Book, Milano 2020.
Further texts and articles on more specific topics will be suggested during the 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
Modules or teaching units
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:
Benenti Marta
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