LOGIC AND PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE 2

The course provides knowledge and competences complementary tho those of Logic and Philosophy of Science / 1. It focuses, in particular, on the logic, methodology and philosophy of the social sciences.
The course addresses the following topics:
- the status, scope, and methodologies of social sciences;
- the concepts of rationality in economic science;
- alternative conceptions of value, utility, probability,
- the roles of models in the social sciences
- possible assumptions of social welfare policies

Ability to reflect on the significance and status of scientific descriptions, explanations and predictions.
Ability to understand and evaluate alternative models and arguments.
Knowledge of concrete examples in which different epistemologic approaches and models are at work.
Ability to recognise and discuss philosophical assumptions of social and economic theories and to evaluate consequences of philosophical positions.
Understanding of the logical structure and theoretical assumptions underpinning the different conceptions of rationality in the social sciences and in economics in particular.
Ability to understand the conceptual and epistemological structures undersying the use of concepts like value, utility and probability in the social sciences.

Logic and Philosophy of Science / 1 is an important framework to appreciate and understand the themes addressed by the course. It is, furthermore, important to consider that the course contents are designed for SECOND year students: first year students may have difficulties understanding concepts, theses, and methods used in social sciences and presupposed by the course.

Topic 1
The status of social sciences
- The status of social sciences
- Analogies and differences between social sciences and other sciences
- Descriptive, explanatory, predictive and prescriptive uses of social science
- Empirical generalisations, causal explanations, lawful correlations in social domains
- The ethical and political significance of social sciences

Topic 2
Building blocks: Value, utility, and preference
- The subjectivity and objectivity of utility
- Axioms of utility theory (and their truth)
- Competing theories of utility
- The maximisation of Expected Utility
- Money pump arguments
- Axioms of preference theory and RPT
- Paradoxes and exceptions
- The relevance of cultural contexts and cultural diversity

Topic 3
Techniques of analysis: probability, its significance and interpretation
- Risk and uncertainty
- The “logic” of probability and its axioms
- “Dutch Book” arguments and the interpretation of probability
- Personalism, frequentism, propensity theories

Topic 4
Assumptions: The concept of economic rationality, axioms and principles
- Decision theoretic models of economic rationality
- Game theoretic models of economic rationality
- Maximisation of expected utility
- Strict and week dominance, and equilibrium
- Mixed strategies
- Game theory as a theoretical tool for social sciences
- Game theory as a possible bridge between social and natural sciences?

Topic 5
Social Sciences and Social Policies
- Assumptions of social policies
- Approaches to welfare
- Intepersonal comparisons of utility
- "Aristotelian" approaches
- Ontological and methodological issues

MAIN REFERENCES
1. Humphreys, Paul (ed.): The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Science. Oxford: Oxford University Press 2016
In particular:
- Humphreys, Paul: "Introduction: New Directions in Philosophy of Science" (1-12)
- Guala, Francesco: "Philosophy of the Social Sciences: Naturalism and Anti-naturalism in the Philosophy of Social Science" (43-64)
- Hansson, Sven Ove: "Science and Non-Science (485-505)

2. Kincaid, Harold (ed.): The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Social Science. Oxford: Oxford University Press 2012
In particular:
- Kincaid, Harold: "Introduction: Doing Philosophy of Social Science" (3-20)
- Ylikoski, Petri: "Micro, Macro, and Mechanisms" (21-45)
- Goertz, Gary: "Descriptive-Causal Generalizations: 'Empirical Laws' in the Social Sciences?" (85-108)
- Risjord, Mark: "Models of Culture" (387-408)
- Guala, Francesco: "The Evolutionary Program in Social Philosophy" (436-457)

3. Kincaid, Harold, and Don Ross (eds.): The Oxford Handbook of the Philosophy of Economics. Oxford: Oxford University Press 2009
In particular:
- Ross, Don, and Harold Kincaid: "The New Philosophy of Economics" (3-34)
- Hausman, Daniel M.: "Laws, Causation, and Economic Methodology" (35-54)
- Rosenberg, Alex: "If Economics Is a Science, What Kind of Science Is It?" (55-67)
- Binmore, Ken: "Interpersonal Comparisons of Utility" (540-559)
- Agner, Erik: "Subjective Measures of Well-Being: Philosophical Perspectives" (560-579)
- Dasgupta, Partha: "Facts and Values in Modern Economics" (580-640)

4. Reiss, Julian: Philosophy of Economics: A Contemporary Introduction. Abingdon: Routledge 2013
In particular: (1-11); (15-26); (27-81); (117-141); (209-229)

The exam will be marked on a scale ranging from 0 to 30. The minimum passing grade is 18. Honors ("lode") will be granted only in case of exceptional knowledge of the topics under evaluation.
The final test will be written and will consist of a series of open questions (not multiple choice questions) regarding the contents of the course and the main bibliography. Questions may involve the application of simple formulas to intuitive problems.

Students will be requested to show their knowledge of the course contents, with particular reference to:
a) main concepts
b) rules, formulas, and procedures associated with such concepts
c) main claims or theories in which such concepts and formulas play a role
d) main arguments supporting those claims or theories or questioning them
e) philosophical and political issues and perspectives associated with different positions

Standard lectures, seminars, case studies

English

Students with learning disabilities or other disabilities are recommended to inform about University services and policies (included those regarding course attendance and exams): https://www.unive.it/pag/28640/

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development