Studying at the University of Verona

Here you can find information on the organisational aspects of the Programme, lecture timetables, learning activities and useful contact details for your time at the University, from enrolment to graduation.

This information is intended exclusively for students already enrolled in this course.
If you are a new student interested in enrolling, you can find information about the course of study on the course page:

Laurea in Lettere - Enrollment from 2025/2026

The Study Plan includes all modules, teaching and learning activities that each student will need to undertake during their time at the University.
Please select your Study Plan based on your enrollment year.

CURRICULUM TIPO:

2° Year   activated in the A.Y. 2019/2020

ModulesCreditsTAFSSD
1 course to be chosen among the following
6
B
L-FIL-LET/05
6
B
L-FIL-LET/04
2 courses to be chosen among the following
activated in the A.Y. 2019/2020
ModulesCreditsTAFSSD
1 course to be chosen among the following
6
B
L-FIL-LET/05
6
B
L-FIL-LET/04
2 courses to be chosen among the following
Modules Credits TAF SSD
Between the years: 1°- 2°- 3°
Between the years: 1°- 2°- 3°
Other activitites
6
F
-

Legend | Type of training activity (TTA)

TAF (Type of Educational Activity) All courses and activities are classified into different types of educational activities, indicated by a letter.




S Placements in companies, public or private institutions and professional associations

iIntroductory
padvanced
mMasterful

Teaching code

4S01268

Coordinator

Luca Ciancio

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

M-STO/05 - HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Period

CuCi IIA dal Feb 15, 2021 al Apr 1, 2021.

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to deepen the knowledge about the eighteenth-century reflection on the evolutionary mechanisms on the conceptions of nature, of man and of society, in an interdisciplinary perspective.

Program

THE POLITICS OF EVOLUTION: theories of species and their social uses

Preface: Scientific ideologies and biopolitics

Variation and stability of the living beings in the Seventeenth century
1. John Ray and the idea of perfect adaptation
2. Robert Hooke and the revolutions of the globe

Variation of the species in the Eighteenth century
3. De Maillet, libertinism, eternalism
4. Linnaeus and the economy of nature
5. Bonnet and the Palingenesis

Pre-darwininian transformism
6. Lamarck, Erasmus Darwin
7. Cuvier and biological fixism

Charles Darwin
8. The crisis of Natural Theology
9. Human evolution: emotions and intelligence
10. Social darwinism and Marx's reaction

The evolution in the Twenteeth century
11. The New Synthesis
12. Steven J. Gould

Anti-darwinian and anti-selectionism
13. The Intelligent design hypothesis
14. Massimo Piattelli-Palmarini against panselectionism

The lecture consists of two parts. During the first part, the general topic is introduced by the Professor using slides of texts and relevant images. In the second, students are requested to analyse and discuss together a series of materials - historical sources and essays - provided in advance in Pdf format.

PREPARATION OF THE EXAM
Working on Barsanti's textbook, students should devote particolar attention to distinguishing between Lamarcks' and Darwin's views of the evolutionary mechanism. With regard to materials provide in PDF format, students ae requested to choose and study one author per each of the six sections of the programme.

Reference texts
Author Title Publishing house Year ISBN Notes
Barsanti, G. Una lunga pazienza cieca. Storia dell'evoluzionismo Einaudi 2005

Examination Methods

During the traditional oral interview the Professor will ask the student to discuss verbally two or more topics of the programme. He will assess the quality of the acquired information, the logic of the argumentation, the originality and autonomy of thought reached by the student.
International students are kindly requested to get in contact with the Professor as soon as possible.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and in accordance with the University of Verona guidelines, during ​the 2020 summer session the assessment modality will be modified as follows: online oral exam.

Students with disabilities or specific learning disorders (SLD), who intend to request the adaptation of the exam, must follow the instructions given HERE