CRITICAL THINKING

Introduction to categories and methods of economic and social sciences, with particular reference to critical and philosophical problems and to theoretical, ethical, and political implications

Comprehension of some crucial categories and notions of economic and social sciences, of their historical provenance and of their theoretical and practical implications. Ability to reflect upon their assumptions and idealisations.

Curiosity and openness to critical discussions

1. The status of economics
- Is economics a science? Is it a bunch of techniques?
- What is economics about?
- Are economic laws of the same kind as physical or mathematical laws?
- What is the relation between economics and other disciplines, like sociology, psychology, ethics?
2. Economic rationality
- What does it mean to be rational? Is rationality a virtue?
- What is the relation between economic and scientific rationality?
- What does it mean to think in economic terms?
3. Economic agents
- What defines economic agents?
- What goals or values may be ascribed to economic agents?
4. Key notions
- Utility
- Value
- Money
- Credit and Debt
- Strategy
- Expected value
- Preference
- Game

Excerpts from the following texts (excerpts shall be handed out and uploaded on the e-learning platform)
Holy Bible, books of Ezra and Nehemiah, Book of Geremiah
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics
Aristotle, Politics
Bentham, J. (1789), An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation
Defoe, D., Robinson Crusoe,
Mill, J.S. (1844), On the Definition of Political Economy, in id. Essays on Some Unsettled Questions of Political Economy, 1844
Mill, J.S. (1843) A System of Logic
Ramsey, F.P. (1926), “Truth and Probability”
Robbins, L. (1932), An Essay on the Nature and Significance of Economic Science, London: Macmillan
Samuelson, Paul A. (1947), Enlarged ed. 1983. Foundations of Economic Analysis, Harvard University Press

Active participation in workshop sessions in the class
Production of a written short essay on one of the topics addressed by the course
Presentation and discussion of the short essay

Lectures by the teacher
Presentations by students
Open discussion on specific texts

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development