History and Philosophy of Scientific Concepts a.y. 2025-2026 – Scienze dell'Educazione e della Formazione (EDU)

Teacher: Prof. Marco Innamorati
E-mail: innamorati@lettere.uniroma2.it

CFU: 6
Course code: 804002505
Bachelor Degrees: Scienze dell’Educazione e della formazione
Language: Italian

Course delivery modalities: in-presence
Attendance: Optional
Assessment method: Oral examination

Pre-requisites:
No prerequisites.

Program:
General course on the history of science, with particular reference to the use of scientific concepts; specific lectures on normality and pathologyThe course will provide a general overview of the history of science starting with the earliest civilisations, moving on to the Greek worldview and the end of the ancient world. Then the renaissance of science in the West, the beginnings of the description of the biological world, the birth of the hard sciences, the progressive development of science and the philosophy of science up to the 20th century will be examined. In the lectures on normality and pathology, a number of forms of madness will be illustrated that presented specific spatio-temporal coordinates.

Program:

General course on the history of science, with particular reference to the use of scientific concepts; specific lectures on normality and pathologyThe course will provide a general overview of the history of science starting with the earliest civilisations, moving on to the Greek worldview and the end of the ancient world. Then the renaissance of science in the West, the beginnings of the description of the biological world, the birth of the hard sciences, the progressive development of science and the philosophy of science up to the 20th century will be examined. In the lectures on normality and pathology, a number of forms of madness will be illustrated that presented specific spatio-temporal coordinates.

Text books:
A. Rupert Hall, M. Boas Hall, A Brief History of science, Signet M. Innamorati, Ten Follies, Routledge.

Educational goals and expected learning outcomes:
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Knowledge of the essentials of the history of science and scientific concepts; specific knowledge of concepts of normal and pathological. KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: During classes, the student will learn the fundamentals of the history of science and the concepts employed by scientists, with particular reference to the field of psychology, becoming familiar with a specific vocabulary and conceptual tools peculiar to that discipline. APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: The consolidation of the fundamental principles of the historiographical method and of scientific concepts, verified both in classes and in examinations, will be useful for the student to profitably pursue his or her course of study and then spend his or her skills both in research and teaching and in other professional fields. MAKING JUDGEMENTS: The student will be asked, both in classes and in examinations, to develop his or her ability to critically evaluate the topics discussed and the texts analyzed. COMMUNICATION SKILLS: In the course of lectures, students will be called upon to actively participate, with the aim of strengthening his or her ability to expound informations, argue his or her positions and exchange views with the lecturer and colleagues; these communication skills will be part of the final assessment in the examination. LEARNING SKILLS: The teaching module will provide the tools for understanding the topics covered and the critical study of textbooks.

Educational goals and expected learning outcomes:

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Knowledge of the essentials of the history of science and scientific concepts; specific knowledge of concepts of normal and pathological.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
During classes, the student will learn the fundamentals of the history of science and the concepts employed by scientists, with particular reference to the field of psychology, becoming familiar with a specific vocabulary and conceptual tools peculiar to that discipline.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
The consolidation of the fundamental principles of the historiographical method and of scientific concepts, verified both in classes and in examinations, will be useful for the student to profitably pursue his or her course of study and then spend his or her skills both in research and teaching and in other professional fields.
MAKING JUDGEMENTS:
The student will be asked, both in classes and in examinations, to develop his or her ability to critically evaluate the topics discussed and the texts analyzed.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
In the course of lectures, students will be called upon to actively participate, with the aim of strengthening his or her ability to expound informations, argue his or her positions and exchange views with the lecturer and colleagues; these communication skills will be part of the final assessment in the examination.
LEARNING SKILLS:
The teaching module will provide the tools for understanding the topics covered and the critical study of textbooks.

Methods and criteria for verifying the learning:
The exam assesses the student’s overall preparation, the ability to combine knowledge about each part of the syllabus, the coherence of argumentation, the analytical ability, and the autonomy of judgment. In addition, the student’s command of language and clarity of presentation are also assessed, in adherence with the Dublin descriptors (1. knowledge and understanding; 2. applying knowledge and experience; 3. making judgments; 4. learning skills; 5. communication skills). The final grade will be based 70% on the student’s depth of knowledge and 30% on the student’s ability for expression (written and oral) and independent critical thinking. The exam will be evaluated according to the following criteria: – Failed: significant deficiencies and inaccuracies in the knowledge and the understanding of the subject matter; poor analytical and synthesizing skills, recurrent generalizations, limited critical and judgmental skills; the arguments are exposed inconsistently and with inappropriate language. – 18-20: Knowledge and understanding of topics barely adequate, with occasional generalizations and imperfections possible; sufficient capacity for analysis synthesis and autonomy of judgment, the arguments are frequently exposed in an incoherent manner and with inappropriate/non technical language. – 21-23: Fair knowledge and understanding of the subject; proper analysis and synthesis skills with coherent, logical argumentation, but with language that is often inappropriate/non technical. – 24-26: Moderate knowledge and understanding of the subjects; good analytical and synthesis skills with arguments expressed rigorously but with language that is not always appropriate/technical. – 27-29: Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the subjects; remarkable analytical and synthesis skills. Good autonomy of judgment. Topics expounded rigorously and with appropriate/technical language. – 30-30L: Excellent level of in-depth knowledge and understanding of the subjects. Excellent skills in analysis, synthesis, and independent judgment. Arguments are expressed in an original way and with appropriate technical language.

Methods and criteria for verifying the learning:

The exam assesses the student’s overall preparation, the ability to combine knowledge about each part of the syllabus, the coherence of argumentation, the analytical ability, and the autonomy of judgment. In addition, the student’s command of language and clarity of presentation are also assessed, in adherence with the Dublin descriptors (1. knowledge and understanding; 2. applying knowledge and experience; 3. making judgments; 4. learning skills; 5. communication skills).
The final grade will be based 70% on the student’s depth of knowledge and 30% on the student’s ability for expression (written and oral) and independent critical thinking.
The exam will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
– Failed: significant deficiencies and inaccuracies in the knowledge and the understanding of the subject matter; poor analytical and synthesizing skills, recurrent generalizations, limited critical and judgmental skills; the arguments are exposed inconsistently and with inappropriate language.
– 18-20: Knowledge and understanding of topics barely adequate, with occasional generalizations and imperfections possible; sufficient capacity for analysis synthesis and autonomy of judgment, the arguments are frequently exposed in an incoherent manner and with inappropriate/non technical language.
– 21-23: Fair knowledge and understanding of the subject; proper analysis and synthesis skills with coherent, logical argumentation, but with language that is often inappropriate/non technical.
– 24-26: Moderate knowledge and understanding of the subjects; good analytical and synthesis skills with arguments expressed rigorously but with language that is not always appropriate/technical.
– 27-29: Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the subjects; remarkable analytical and synthesis skills. Good autonomy of judgment. Topics expounded rigorously and with appropriate/technical language.
– 30-30L: Excellent level of in-depth knowledge and understanding of the subjects. Excellent skills in analysis, synthesis, and independent judgment. Arguments are expressed in an original way and with appropriate technical language.

Attendance modalities:
Lectures with PowerPoint presentations; collective work on reading and commenting sources; class discussion on specific readings and themes. Attendance, which is optional, is strongly recommended.