Teaching code

4S001219

Teacher

Luca Ciancio

Coordinator

Luca Ciancio

Credits

6

Also offered in courses:

• History of Science and Technology - LM [Sede VR] of the course Master's degree in Arts (interuniversity)
• The History of science (m) of the course Master's degree in Philosophy

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

M-STO/05 - HISTORY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Period

Sem. 1B dal Nov 19, 2018 al Jan 12, 2019.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning outcomes

Acquisition of knowledge and skills in the historical analysis of the sciences and their impact on the political and social environment of a given epoch.

Program

The scientific discovery of the environment: the rise of ecology

Introduction
1. Environmental crisis and western thought
2. Man and nature in ancient Greek thought
3. Christian thought and the environment

From Renaissance to Enlightenment
4. Bacon and technology: death of nature?
5. Natural theology: Gilbert White of Selborne
6. Linneo: balance and war of nature

The Ninenteenth century: from Romantic nature to Positivism
7. Alexander von Humboldt
8. Henry D. Thoreau, George B. Emerson, Walt Whitmann
9. Charles Darwin

Recent developments: the science of ecology between academy and political action
10. Aldo Leopold and the land ethic
11. Ecology as an academic discipline: Elton, Tansley, Lindeman, Odum
12. Rachel Carson and James Lovelock
13. Jared Diamond: society, environment, responsability
14. Bruno Latour: the Climatic Regime
15. Environmental crisis and the Infosphere

The lecture will consist of two parts. During the first part, the general topic will be introduced by the Professor. In second part, students will be requested to analyse and debate a series of materials - historical sources and essays - provided in advance in electronic format.

The textbooks for the preparation of the exam are the following: 1. D. Worster, Storia delle idee ecologiche, Bologna, Il Mulino, 1994. 2: Bruno Latour, Tracciare la rotta. Come orientarsi in politica, Milano, Raffaello Cortina Editore, 2018.
A mail contact with the Professor is strongly suggested to those who cannot participate to the lectures.

Further bibliographic suggestions:

History of ecology:
D. Worster, The Wealth of Nature, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1991.
P. Acot, Storia dell’ecologia, Roma, Lucarini, 1989. (FIL IV 435)
P. Acot (ed.), The European Origins of Scientific Ecology, Gordon and Breach, Chateau-Gontier: Imp. de l'independant, 1998.
J.P. Deléage, Storia dell’ecologia, Napoli, CUEN, 1994. (GEO 2180)
W. Leiss, Scienza e dominio. Il dominio della natura: storia di un’ideologia, Milano, Longanesi, 1976. (BF 11 L 136)
J.-M. Drouin, L’écologie et son historie, Paris, Flammarion, 1991.
J. Browne, The Secular Ark, New York, Yale University Press, 1983.
F. Brevini, L’invenzione della natura selvaggia, Torino, Bollati Boringhieri, 2013.

History of environment:
K. Thomas, L’uomo e la natura. Dallo sfruttamento all’estetica dell’ambiente, Torino, Einaudi, 1994.
J. Diamond, Collasso. Come le società scelgono di morire o vivere, Torino Einaudi, 2005
P. Bevilacqua, La Terra è finita. Breve storia dell’ambiente, Roma, Laterza, 2006.

Environmental philosophy:
Evandro Agazzi, La nostra responsabilità per la natura, Casale Monferrato, Piemme, 1995.
Aldo Leopold, Almanacco di un mondo semplice, Como, Red-studio redazionale, 1997
C. Locatelli, Il mondo classico e l’idea di natura vivente, Pisa, Edizioni ETS, 1998.
Carolyn Merchant , La morte della natura : le donne, l’ecologia e la rivoluzione scientifica, Milan, Garzanti 1988.
R.F. Nash, The Right of Nature, Madison, The University of Winsconsin Press, 1989.
Piergiacomo Pagano, Filosofia ambientale, Fidenza, Mattioli 1885, 2006.
John Passmore, La nostra responsabilità per la natura, Milan, Feltrinelli 1991.
Sergio Pinna, La protezione dell'ambiente. Il contributo della filosofia, dell'economia e della geografia, Milan, Franco Angeli, 1995.
Nicola Russo, Filosofia ed ecologia. Genealogia della scienza ecologica ed etica della crisi ambientale, Naples, Guida, 2000.
Mariachiara Tallacchini (ed.), Etiche della terra : antologia di filosofia dell'ambiente, Milan, Vita e Pensiero, 1998.

Examination Methods

During the traditional oral interview - the first topic can be chosen by the student - the professor will assess the quality of the information acquired by the student, his logical skills in verbal argumentation, his originality and autonomy of thought. The student's active participation to the class work will be duly considered.