Corso di laurea magistrale in Filosofia

Theories of Rationality

Theories of Rationality

Anno accademico 2022/2023

• 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 attendance (in the classroom) and to include lectures and interactive tasks. In any event, use of the Moodle platform will allow all students to get credits even in case they are unable to attain participation.

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). Assessment will be on a 0-30 scale. 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.

The default arrangement for exams is to take them in attendance.

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) is made available in Materiale didattico and on the Moodle platform.

Note

IMPORTANT: Changes had to be made as concerns the calendar of the seminar meetings.

The following schedule will apply (please do take note):

Monday 14 November – CANCELED
Tuesday 15 November: h 10-12 (regular meeting), Aula Antica (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)
Tuesday 15 November: h 14-16 (extra), Aula Medievale (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)
Wednesday 16 November: h 10-12 (regular meeting), Aula Antica (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)

Monday 21 November – CANCELED
Tuesday 22 November: h 10-12 (regular meeting), Aula Antica (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)
Tuesday 22 November: h 14-16 (extra), Aula Medievale (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)
Wednesday 23 November: h 10-12 (regular meeting), Aula Antica (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)

Monday 28 November: h 10-12 (regular meeting), Aula Antica (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)
Tuesday 29 November: h 10-12 (regular meeting), Aula Antica (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)
Tuesday 29 November: h 14-16 (extra), Aula Medievale (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)
Wednesday 30 November: h 10-12 (regular meeting), Aula Antica (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)

Monday 5 December: h 10-12 (regular meeting), Aula Antica (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)
Tuesday 6 December: h 10-12 (regular meeting), Aula Antica (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)
Wednesday 7 December: h 10-12 – CANCELED

Monday 12 December – CANCELED
Tuesday 13 December: h 10-12 (regular meeting), Aula Antica (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)
Tuesday 13 December: h 14-16 (extra), Aula Medievale (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)
Wednesday 14 December: h 10-12 (regular meeting), Aula Antica (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)

Monday 19 December: h 10-12 (regular meeting), Aula Antica (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)
Tuesday 20 December: h 10-12 – CANCELED
Tuesday 20 December: h 14-16 (extra), Aula Medievale (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)
Wednesday 21 December: h 10-12 (regular meeting), Aula Antica (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)

Thursday 22 December, h 9.30: FINAL WRITTEN TEST, Aula Antica (Palazzo Nuovo, second floor)

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