Theories of Rationality

Oggetto:

Theories of Rationality

Oggetto:

Theories of Rationality

Oggetto:

Anno accademico 2020/2021

Codice dell'attività didattica

Docente

Vincenzo Crupi (Titolare del corso)

Insegnamento integrato

Logic and Rationality (FIL0286)

Corso di studi

Philosophy International Curriculum M.A.

Anno

1° anno

Periodo didattico

Da definire

Tipologia

Caratterizzante

Crediti/Valenza

SSD dell'attività didattica

M-FIL/02 - logica e filosofia della scienza

Modalità di erogazione

Mista

Lingua di insegnamento

Inglese

Modalità di frequenza

Facoltativa

Tipologia d'esame

Orale

Oggetto:

Obiettivi formativi

What does it mean to be rational? How does rationality relate to logic and similar formal theories? What is the role of philosophy and other disciplines (especially cognitive science) in the study of rationality? In which sense and to what extent are humans rational?
The course aims at addressing these key questions. We will outline a classical view of rationality as characterized by the principles of logic, probability, and decision theory. Against this background, we will discuss a number of topics widely debated by philosophers and cognitive scientists over the years: (i) does this classical view of rationality have a compelling and distinctive justification as a normative benchmark? (ii) how does this kind of normative justification work? (iii) do humans generally comply with the relevant normative principles of reasoning in actual practice? (iv) if not, what are the consequences for philosophical analyses of rationality and for our individual and societal prospects?
The issues and skills involved in the course are central to education in philosophy and can also provide philosophical, historical, and methodological insight for students of specific scientific disciplines (including mathematics, physics, psychology, and history).

Oggetto:

Risultati dell'apprendimento attesi

Students who successfully complete the course will understand basic elements of probability and decision theory as principles of rational thinking. They will learn to recognize key issues for the study of human rationality and critically discuss their meaning with reference to relevant cases and examples. More generally, the skills developed in the course will enrich the array of tools for the analysis of human rationality and its limitations, thus enhancing critical thinking, sound inference, and compelling argumentation.

Oggetto:

Modalità di insegnamento

A combination of: (i) targeted recorded lectures, (ii) individual assigments (readings and focused tasks), and (iii) interactive meetings. We'll employ the Moodle platform for (i) and (ii), and go to the class (if possible) for (iii).

Oggetto:

Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento

The assessment of learning achievements will be made by (i) a test at the end of the term or an oral exam (about 15-20 minutes), and (ii) an essay (approximately 2500-3000 words) based on relevant assigned readings (a detailed list will be provided). To meet the course requirements, students will have to be able to describe and discuss the central issues of the course on the basis of the notions and skills acquired, including clarity in presentation, informed use of the terminology, and understanding of appropriate reasoning techniques.

Oggetto:

Programma

LIST OF TOPICS
– Classical principles of rationality (logic, probability, and decision theory), and their normative justification
– Reasoning biases and cognitive illusions: selected case-studies
– Controversies concerning human rationality
– Puzzles and paradoxes of rationality
– Rationality and irrationality in the real world

Descrizione

Testi consigliati e bibliografia

Oggetto:

The course will include an introduction to probability and decision theory. Relevant study material at elementary level can be found in the following textbooks (.pdfs will be available in Materiale Didattico).

FOR PROBABILITY THEORY:
– I. Hacking, An Introduction to Probability and Inductive Logic (Cambridge University Press, 2001): pp. xi-78 (chapters 1-7)
– E. Steinhart, More Precisely: The Math You Need to Do Philosophy (Broadway Press, 2018, second ed.): pp. 108-130 (chapter 5: Probability)
– B. Skyrms, Choice and Chance. An Introduction to Inductive Logic (Wadsworth, 2000): pp. 109-136 (chapter 6: The Probability Calculus)

FOR DECISION THEORY:
– I. Hacking, An Introduction to Probability and Inductive Logic (Cambridge University Press, 2001): pp. 79-126 (chapters 8-10)
– J. Baron, Thinking and Deciding (Cambridge University Press, 2008): pp. 233-256 (chapter 10: Normative theory of choice under uncertainty)
– M. Peterson, An Introduction to Decision Theory (Cambridge University Press, 2009): pp. 91-106 (chapter 5: Utility)

The detailed list of further reading assigments and suggestions (including relevant material for the final essay) can now be found in Materiale didattico (also check the final syllabus attachment).

Oggetto: