POLITICAL EPISTEMOLOGY

This class introduces political epistemology as a critical reflection on science and scientific culture at the intersection of various disciplinary lines of inquiry, which include:

a. the philosophy of science;
b. the history and sociology of science;
c. political theory.

This year’s class addresses a. the political epistemology of ecology in connection with b. the criticism of technocracy and c. a specific focus on hydrology.

The reader comprises:

For a.
1. Félix Guattari, "Les trois écologies" (Paris: Éditions Galilée, 1989), pp. 11-73 (tot. 62 p.), Engl. transl., The Three Ecologies (London-New Brunswick, NJ: The Athlone Press, 2000), pp. 43-69 (tot. 26 p.).
2. Kohei Saito, "Marx in the Anthropocene: Towards the Idea of Degrowth Communism" (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2022), Chap. 1, “Marx’s Theory of Metabolism in the Age of Global Ecological Crisis”, pp. 13-42 (tot. 29 p.) and Chap. 4, “Monism and the Non-identity of Nature”, pp. 103-135 (tot. 32 p.).

For b.
3. Jürgen Habermas, "Technik und Wissenschaft als ‘Ideologie’" (Frankfurt/Main: Suhrkamp, 1968), pp. 48-103 (tot. 55 p.), Engl. transl. “Technology and Science as ‘Ideology,’” in "Toward a Rational Society: Student Protest, Science, and Politics" (Boston: Beacon Press, 1970), pp. 81–122 (tot. 41 p.).
4. Giovanni Ciccotti, Marcello Cini, Michelangelo De Maria and Giovanni Jona-Lasinio, "L’Ape e l’architetto: Paradigmi scientifici e materialismo storico" (Milano: Feltrinelli, 1977), Chap. 1, “La progettualità scientifica contro lo scientism”, pp. 49-84 (tot. 35 p.), Engl. transl., "The Bee and the Architect: Scientific Paradigms and Historical Materialism", ed. Gerardo Ienna and Pietro Daniel Omodeo (Venice: Verum Factum, 2024), pp. 97-148, “Scientific Planning versus Scientism” (tot. 51 p.).


For c.
5. Serenella Iovino, "Ecocriticism and Italy: Ecology, Resistance, and Liberation", (London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2016), pp. 47–82, “Cognitive Justice and the Truth of Biology: Death (and Life) in Venice.” (tot, p. 35)
6. Marco Armiero, "La tragedia del Vajont: Ecologia politica di un disastro" (Torino: Einaudi, 2023), Chap. 2, “Progetti, previsioni, presagi”, pp. 35-55, and Chap. 3, “La cause del Vajont”, pp. 56-83 (tot. p. 49)

General objectives
• To introduce students to research in political epistemology;
• To explore the ways to connect the philosophy of science with the history of science;
• To address a crucial topic of political epistemology, namely the problems of science’s collective character and the politics of science;
• To become capable of reflecting of and discussing a philosophical classic in historical epistemology and critically interpret them in the light of political-theoretical concerns.

Specific objectives
• To explore this year's specific problematic.

• General background knowledge of philosophy;
• Enthusiasm and readiness to engage with challenging historical and philosophical discussions and readings;
• Knowledge of English, in order to read the materials and participate in the discussion

The meetings will have a seminar-like character, alternating frontal teaching and sources-based discussion.
Students will be introduced to the main problems of political epistemology, such as the political aprioris of science, the connection of science and power, knowledge property, knowledge economy, interests and knowledge, ideology and technocracy, science collectivism, etc.

Primary sources will constitute the basis for an in-depth study and comprehension of the scientific, philosophical and political challenges of our epistemic culture on the basis of key topics/cases.

The students are expected to read in advance the texts that constitute the focus of the various classes according to the course calendar.

Mandatory literature:

The focus and reading of this year will be communicated and confirmed in due time.

Additional non-mandatory literature:

Pietro Daniel Omodeo, Political Epistemology: The Problem of Ideology in Science Studies (Dordrecht: Springer, 2019).

Referneces to further secondary literature will be made available during the classes or through Moodle.

Active participation to the classes and final oral examination on the sources and themes of the class.
The alternative of a written assignment might be considered.

The teaching will consist of:
• frontal teaching, in which the professor will introduce students to the topics of the course;
• and a dialogic seminar-like part, in which students will interact with their classmates and the professor on the basis of the texts they have been assigned and they have to read in preparation for the lessons.

English

oral