Corso di laurea magistrale in Filosofia

This course provides an (opinionated) introduction into the most important topics of epistemology.

 

1.) Theories of Knowledge

2.) Theories of Truth

3.) Theories of Justification

4.) Sources of Knowledge/Justification

            4.1) Perception

            4.2) Rational Reasoning

            4.3) Testimony

Students who successfully complete the course will understand how the three main sources of knowledge/justification can contribute to acquiring knowledge/justified true beliefs about the (external) world. In particular, they will understand the basic elements of logic and probability theory as the main principles governing rational reasoning. In addition, they will be acquainted with geometrical approaches to represent the content of perceptual experiences with the help of phenomenal similarity spaces.

Lectures and discussion sections, 36 hours overall.

The assessment of learning achievements will be made by (i) an oral exam (about 15-20 minutes), and (ii) an essay (approximately 4000 words) based on relevant assigned readings (see below). 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.

LIST OF TOPICS

1.) Theories of Knowledge

2.) Theories of Truth

3.) Theories of Justification

4.) Sources of Knowledge/Justification

            4.1) Perception

            4.2) Rational Reasoning

            4.3) Testimony

On a weekly basis, the slides of the lecture series will be provided online to the students (in Materiale Didattico). As preparation for the course students can study the following chapters/ textbooks.

 

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)

FOR CONCEPTUAL SPACES:

- P. Gärdenfors, Conceptual Spaces—The Geometry of Thought, (MIT Press, 2000): pp. ix-100 (chapters 1-7)

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