ID:
SCV0629
Duration (hours):
56
CFU:
7
SSD:
FILOSOFIA TEORETICA
Located in:
Varese - Università degli Studi dell'Insubria
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Primo Semestre (22/09/2025 - 19/12/2025)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The main objective of the course is to investigate the origins of modernity and its peculiar way of thinking, paying a special attention to its relationships with science and Galilean experimental method, on which they pretend to be based, while the thesis we will maintain here is that they are actually based on a “closed” idea of reason, which not only has nothing to do with the one which is characteristic of science but rather is its exact opposite.
Second, we will try to show the consequences, both theorical and practical, of such paradoxical situation, the main ones being the following two:
a) an ever deeper fracture between humanistic and scientific culture, which is continuously producing contrapositions between each other, without any objective reason, since they actually arise from mere misunderstandings, but with more and more dangerous consequences, considering the increasing influence which science has in our life, both at the level of our vision of the world and of the practical organization of our society;
b) the progressive affirmation of what might be called “practical mechanicism”, that is an increasing tendency towards the mechanization of our social and even personal life, what is risking generating an authentic new form of totalitarianism, which claims to be based on science, but actually has its roots in a precise philosophical tradition, whose inconsistency has been demonstrated precisely by modern science, although, despite this, it is still the dominant one in our world.
The final objective is to enable the students to use what they have learned during the course to evaluate from a new and more adequate point of view the main commonplaces of modern mentality.
Second, we will try to show the consequences, both theorical and practical, of such paradoxical situation, the main ones being the following two:
a) an ever deeper fracture between humanistic and scientific culture, which is continuously producing contrapositions between each other, without any objective reason, since they actually arise from mere misunderstandings, but with more and more dangerous consequences, considering the increasing influence which science has in our life, both at the level of our vision of the world and of the practical organization of our society;
b) the progressive affirmation of what might be called “practical mechanicism”, that is an increasing tendency towards the mechanization of our social and even personal life, what is risking generating an authentic new form of totalitarianism, which claims to be based on science, but actually has its roots in a precise philosophical tradition, whose inconsistency has been demonstrated precisely by modern science, although, despite this, it is still the dominant one in our world.
The final objective is to enable the students to use what they have learned during the course to evaluate from a new and more adequate point of view the main commonplaces of modern mentality.
Course Prerequisites
None.
Teaching Methods
Educational activity will be developed through frontal lessons, supported by a very detailed set of PowerPoint presentations and other multimedia tools, including some talks and interviews recorded by the professor himself during international scientific congresses which he has personally attended.
If possible, depending on the availability of the funds needed to invite them, there will be also some moments of dialogue with some significative personalities working in the field of science and science-fiction.
Finally, it is strongly suggested the participation in “Science & Science-fiction”, a series of lectures and guided visits related with the course of “Science and science-fiction in media and literature” of the our Master’s Degree, in which there will be deepened some topics which are treated also in this course.
If possible, depending on the availability of the funds needed to invite them, there will be also some moments of dialogue with some significative personalities working in the field of science and science-fiction.
Finally, it is strongly suggested the participation in “Science & Science-fiction”, a series of lectures and guided visits related with the course of “Science and science-fiction in media and literature” of the our Master’s Degree, in which there will be deepened some topics which are treated also in this course.
Assessment Methods
The exam is oral and individual and consists of two parts.
The first part is aimed at verifying that all the main topics covered in the course have been understood by the student and consists of some questions relating to chapters 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 of my book “La scienza e l’idea di ragione” (see bibliography).
The second part is aimed at verifying the development of the critical capacity and autonomy of judgment of the student, who will have to present a text related to one of the topics covered in class, chosen from those indicated in the bibliography. On the E-learning page of the course it will be indicated for each text to which chapter of the reference book it is connected. The student, in addition to presenting the content of the text of his choice, will also have to demonstrate that he has understood the connection with the topics covered in that chapter.
Depending on the number of students enrolled in the course, the first part of the exam may be carried out in the form of a written test, which in this case will be held at the beginning of each exam session and will be immediately followed by the second oral part. All information regarding this will be published in due course time on the E-learning page.
The first part is aimed at verifying that all the main topics covered in the course have been understood by the student and consists of some questions relating to chapters 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9 of my book “La scienza e l’idea di ragione” (see bibliography).
The second part is aimed at verifying the development of the critical capacity and autonomy of judgment of the student, who will have to present a text related to one of the topics covered in class, chosen from those indicated in the bibliography. On the E-learning page of the course it will be indicated for each text to which chapter of the reference book it is connected. The student, in addition to presenting the content of the text of his choice, will also have to demonstrate that he has understood the connection with the topics covered in that chapter.
Depending on the number of students enrolled in the course, the first part of the exam may be carried out in the form of a written test, which in this case will be held at the beginning of each exam session and will be immediately followed by the second oral part. All information regarding this will be published in due course time on the E-learning page.
Contents
Considering the peculiar typology of the students of the course of studies in Sciences of Communication, who usually do not have a strong scientific background, first of all the course will try to provide the knowledge needed for a correct understanding of the topic, through the presentation of some of the most important steps in the history of science and the direct contact with the world of scientific research. So, the students will have a personal experience of what kind of reasoning is at work in the phase of scientific discovery, which is very different from the exposition of the outcomes in the school books and even more from the presentation usually provided by mass-media.
Then, it will be shown as the scientific method has been radically misunderstood by modern culture, which, despite its claim of being based on science, on the contrary is based on a “close” idea of reason, which has caused a dramatic fracture between reason and experience, which has had and is still having many negative consequences at every level (social, political, economic, ecological, personal and even affective), often in ways not immediately evident, but nonetheless extremely real and concrete.
Finally, it will be made an attempt of indicating a possible solution.
Then, it will be shown as the scientific method has been radically misunderstood by modern culture, which, despite its claim of being based on science, on the contrary is based on a “close” idea of reason, which has caused a dramatic fracture between reason and experience, which has had and is still having many negative consequences at every level (social, political, economic, ecological, personal and even affective), often in ways not immediately evident, but nonetheless extremely real and concrete.
Finally, it will be made an attempt of indicating a possible solution.
Course Language
Italian
More information
Students may talk to the professor at the end of each lesson of the course. In the presence of adequate reasons, also by appointment, to be agreed with the professor by phone (335/8205220) or e-mail (paolo.musso@uninsubria.it).
More precise details about the course and the exam will be provided each year in a special file entitled “Descrizione del corso e modalità di esame”, which will be uploaded before the beginning of the lessons to the E-learning platform. Students are therefore kindly requested to download it as soon as possible and to read it very carefully in all its parts.
More precise details about the course and the exam will be provided each year in a special file entitled “Descrizione del corso e modalità di esame”, which will be uploaded before the beginning of the lessons to the E-learning platform. Students are therefore kindly requested to download it as soon as possible and to read it very carefully in all its parts.
Degrees
Degrees
COMMUNICATION SCIENCES
Bachelor’s Degree
3 years
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People
People
Docenti di ruolo di IIa fascia
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