HISTORY OF EPISTEMOLOGY FOR PSYCHOLOGY 1
Academic Year 2024/2025 - Teacher: EMANUELE GIUSEPPE COCOExpected Learning Outcomes
The course is divided into three sections: 1. the key problems of epistemology; 2. the twentieth-century debate around science; 3. the dialogue between epistemology and psychology.
The first section will illustrate the reasons why objective knowledge of reality may constitute a theoretical problem that is not easy to solve. It will discuss the fallacy of the senses, empiricist psychology, idealism, the opposition between appearance and reality, and the answers offered by some philosophers to the problem of the senses (Galileo and English empiricism). The rationalist alternative and the problem of the mind/body opposition will be illustrated. The section concludes with Kant's proposed synthesis and some references to non-Euclidean geometries, theories of truth and fallibilist realism. This will enable students to acquire theoretical tools that will enable them to make a conscious and critical use of scientific methodologies and results.
The third section addresses some specific problems in the relationship between science and psychology. The examples of these reciprocal exchanges will change from year to year, so as to make the teaching more lively and topical. The following topics are planned for the current year: Kant's influence on Freud's thought; Wilhelm Reich's naturalism; Bateson's ecology of the mind. The section concludes with an in-depth study of Dream, Myth and Symbolism in the knowledge of inner reality. This section, in harmony with the previous ones, aims both to provide specific knowledge on the topics covered and to reinforce critical reflection on knowledge of the person, of oneself and of the patient.
In terms of training, the course aims to develop knowledge and understanding of authors, problems and theories within their historical contexts. By proposing a critical analysis of problems and a careful treatment of Psychology, the course will solicit the ability to apply the epistemological debate to the contemporary context. The course also aims to develop transversal skills with particular reference to autonomy of judgement, communication and teamwork skills, self-analysis and personal development.
The latter objectives will be pursued through three main channels: 1. the general approach of the lectures aimed at showing, among the filigree of the topics dealt with, elements useful for the development of the skills listed above; 2. classroom activities (active participation of students during the lectures and exposure by them of some topics in the programme, shared discussion); 3. development of a specific part - within the monographic course - dedicated to the knowledge of oneself and of others.
Course Structure
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
The first section is devoted to an introduction to the founding problems of epistemology. TOPICS: The problem of knowledge; Scepticism under attack; Scepticism and the senses; Empiricist psychology; Idea-ism, appearance and reality; Primary and secondary qualities; Berkeley: idea-ism becomes idealism; Hume: Idea-ism becomes irrationalism; Responses to Hume on induction; The rationalist alternative; Descartes' defence of rationalism; Kant and the synthetic a priori; Non-Euclidean geometries; Truth and theories of truth; Fallibilist realism.
The third part deals with examples of the relationship between epistemology, psychology and psychoanalysis. The following THEMES are planned for the current year: Kant's influence on Freud's thought; Wilhelm Reich's naturalism; Bateson's ecology of the mind; Dream, myth and symbolism in the knowledge of inner reality.
Textbook Information
- A. Musgrave, Senso comune, scienza e scetticismo. Un’introduzione storica alla teoria della conoscenza, Raffaello Cortina editore, 1995 [360 pp.]
- Francesco Coniglione, Lontano da Popper. L’epistemologia post-positivista e le metamorfosi della razionalità scientifica, Edizioni ETS, [170 pp.]
- E. Coco, Dal cosmo al mare. La naturalizzazione del mito e la funzione filosofica, Olschki, 2017 [145 pp.]
- E. Coco, Il miraggio dei numeri. Il caso dei modelli sul comportamento sociale, Malcor, 2024. (Available for free in open access)
Course Planning
Subjects | Text References | |
---|---|---|
1 | The problem of knowledge | Musgrave, cap. 1 |
2 | Scepticism under attack | Musgrave, cap. 2 |
3 | Scepticism and the senses | Musgrave, cap. 3 |
4 | Empiricist psychology | Musgrave, cap. 4 |
5 | Idea-ism, appearance and reality | Musgrave, cap. 5 |
6 | Primary and secondary qualities | Musgrave, cap. 6 |
7 | Berkeley: idea-ism becomes idealism | Musgrave, cap. 7 |
8 | Hume: idea-ism becomes irrationalism | Musgrave, cap. 8 |
9 | Hume's answers on induction | Musgrave, cap. 9 |
10 | The rationalist alternative | Musgrave, cap. 10 |
11 | The defence of rationalism: Descartes | Musgrave, cap. 11 |
12 | Kant and the synthetic a priori | Musgrave, cap. 12 |
13 | Alternative geometries | Musgrave, cap. 13 |
14 | Fallibilist realism | Musgrave, cap. 15 |
15 | The epistemology of the 20th century: The ‘Received View’: the fundamental peculiarities | F. Coniglione, "Lontano da Popper", edizioni ETS (pp. 49-73) |
16 | Thomas Kuhn and the scientific paradigms | F. Coniglione, "Lontano da Popper", edizioni ETS (pp. 110-151) |
17 | Paul K. Feyerabend's farewell to reason | F. Coniglione, "Lontano da Popper", edizioni ETS (pp. 200-262) |
18 | The feminist approach to science | F. Coniglione, "Lontano da Popper", edizioni ETS (pp. 434-452) |
19 | Kant's influence on Freud's thinking | Dispense, pdf 1 |
20 | The Naturalism of Wilhelm Reich | Dispense, pdf 2 |
21 | Bateson's Ecology of Mind | Dispense, pdf 3 |
22 | Complexity and dissolution of the real: radical constructivism | F. Coniglione, "Lontano da Popper", edizioni ETS (pp. 453-477) |
23 | The problem of numerical variables in models of psychological studies | E. Coco "Il miraggio dei numeri. Il caso dei modelli sul comportamento sociale", Malcor, 2024. (Available for free in open access) |
24 | Dream, myth and symbolism in the knowledge of inner reality | E. Coco, "Dal cosmo al mare". |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
The final assessment of learning takes place in oral form (interview) and is accompanied by two in itinere (optional) tests to be carried out during the lessons. Students who take part in the in itinere comparison and verification activities during the lessons may be exempted from presenting some parts of the programme during the final exam, according to procedures that will be communicated at the beginning of the course in relation to the number of students attending. As a general guideline, the assessment criteria adopted are set out below: Adequacy of expression and clarity of exposition Ability to rework knowledge Ability to organise knowledge thematically and to make connections between different authors and/or problems, correctly arguing the reasons for any proposed connections Breadth of thematic awareness and lexical correctness Capacity for critical investigation Ability to make interdisciplinary connections Verification of learning may also be carried out electronically, should conditions require it.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
2. What are the differences and commonalities between rationalism and empiricism?
3.
4. What value can dreams have within a theory of knowledge?
5. Why was Freud interested in Kant's work?
NB: These questions are for illustrative purposes and are therefore not binding. The examination will be carried out in the manner of an open conversion aimed at assessing not only the candidate's knowledge, but also her/his critical and expository capacity, language property, familiarity with technical jargon and ability to express functional and creative intellectual performance. In this regard, it should be noted that the lectures include moments of exchange between the lecturer and the participants that prepare them to intervene critically in the manner listed above.