Corso di laurea magistrale in Filosofia

Theories of Rationality

Theories of Rationality

Anno accademico 2021/2022

• Logic and Rationality (FIL0286)

Sommario insegnamento

• Obiettivi formativi
• Risultati dell'apprendimento attesi
• Modalità di insegnamento
• Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento
• Programma
• Testi consigliati e bibliografia
• Note
• Strumenti didattici

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).

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.

Modalità di insegnamento

Following recent recommendations, meetings are expected to take place in presence (in the classroom) along with a streaming connection for remote attendance. The organisation of the course could still undergo changes in view of new healthcare policy measures, and relevant updates will be shared and circulated accordingly. In any event, use of the Moodle platform will allow all students to get credits even in case they are unable to attain participation to seminar meetings.

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.

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

The course will include an introduction to probability and decision theory. Hacking's book above provides a good presentation of both (chapters 1-7 and 8-10, respectively). More study material at elementary level can be found in the following textbooks (.pdfs will be available in Materiale Didattico).

FOR PROBABILITY THEORY:
– 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:
– 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)

A detailed list of further reading assigments and suggestions (including relevant material for the final essay) will be given at the beginning of the course and also made available in Materiale didattico and on the Moodle platform.

Note

Classes will begin on Thursday 2 December 2021 at Palazzo Nuovo, with the following schedule:

1   Thursday 2 December, h 14-17 – Room 17
2.  Friday 3 December, h 14-17 – Room 17
3.  Friday 10 December, h 14-17 – Room 17 [NO class on Thursday 9]
4.  Thursday 16 December, h 14-17 – Room 17
5.  Friday 17 December, h 14-17 – Room 17
6.  Monday 20 December, h 16-19 – Room 21 [NO class on Thursday 23]
7.  Wednesday 12 January, h 16-19 – ONLINE MEETING [NO class on Thursday 13]
8.  Friday 14 January, h 14-17 – ONLINE MEETING
9.  Wednesday 19 January, h 16-19 – Room 23 [NO class on Thursday 20]
10. Friday 21 January, h 14-17 – Room 17
11. Thursday 27 January, h 14-17 – Room 17
12. Friday 28 January, h 14-17 – Room 17

According to current directives, students will have to possess a Green Pass and reserve their place through the Student Booking app.

For remote attendance through the Webex platform, please access the teacher's virtual room here: https://unito.webex.com/meet/vincenzo.crupi.


FINAL WRITTEN TEST:
when: Monday 31 January 2022, h 14
where: Sala Lauree Terracini, Palazzo Nuovo

Participation to the test is open. It will include 10 multiple-choice question (2 points each) + 1 open question (up to 10 points) concerning the topics addressed during the seminar meetings.

• Materiale didattico
• Bacheca appelli
• Vai a Moodle
• Visita i forum