The course aims at providing the students with a critical understanding of the philosophical foundations of science and technology. But what is the relation between philosophy and science? On the one hand, the discoveries by scientists are often inspired by philosophical ideas. On the other hand, scientific achievements and technological advancements pose deep conceptual questions to philosophers. The connection between these disciplines is thus so tied that it becomes difficult to even draw a border between them. This course explores such a connection through the study of important episodes in the history of science. Outstanding issues of philosophy of science and technology, such as scientific progress, the method of science and the confirmation of theories and laws, will be addressed. Moreover, a particular focus will be devoted to philosophical questions concerning the nature of space as they emerge in the foundations of science, especially in relation to the famous debate between Leibniz and Newton.

The course aims at providing the students with a critical understanding of the philosophical foundations of science and technology.

What is the relation between philosophy and science? On the one hand, the discoveries by scientists are often inspired by philosophical ideas. On the other hand, scientific achievements and technological advancements pose deep conceptual questions to philosophers. The connection between these disciplines is thus so tied that it becomes difficult to even draw a border between them. This course explores such a connection through the study of important episodes in the history of science. Outstanding issues of philosophy of science and technology, such as scientific progress, the method of science and the confirmation of theories and laws, will be addressed. Moreover, a particular focus will be devoted to philosophical questions concerning the nature of space as they emerge in the foundations of science, especially in relation to the famous debate between Leibniz and Newton.

- Scientific method

- Demarcation between science and pseudo-science

- Confirmation

- Scientific progress

- Philosophy of Space: Absolutism vs Relationism

Final written exam based on general questions about the topics of the lectures: specifically, the students are assigned to write two essays, which have to be emailed directly to the instructor at the address  giovanni.valente@polimi.it  . Class attendance is not mandatory.