Scientific method. The fundamental concepts
This course offers PhD students across all disciplines a unique opportunity to explore the foundational concepts and methods of scientific research from a philosophical perspective. Through interactive, discussion-based sessions, participants will critically examine core epistemological questions, including the nature of science, the relationship between theory and observation, models of scientific explanation, and the meaning of objectivity. Drawing from diverse scientific fields—from physics to educational sciences—the course encourages reflection on what it means to “do science,” fostering deeper awareness of the assumptions underlying scientific inquiry. Sessions will be held in English, with supplementary materials provided via the e-learning platform.
- ECTS: 1
- Total hours: 8
- Language: English
- Mode of participation: Course given in person. Online participation is possible upon request.
- Max participants: 30
- Course code: INV.TRSVL.33
- Category: INTERDISCIPLINARY PATHS
How To Apply
Contact for registration: dottorati@unimib.it
Philosophy of science is a branch of philosophy concerned with the methods and the fundamental concepts involved in scientific research. Cornerstone epistemological issues such as the distinction between science and non-science, the characteristics of a good scientific explanation, the relationship between theory and observation, the structure of scientific theories, and the nature of mind, are rarely addressed in scientific courses. However, all “good” scientists ought to reflect on them deeply. This course represents a unique opportunity, for all the Bicocca PhD students, to do that.
The course is open to PhD students in all research fields. It will cover issues pertaining to the foundations of sciences ranging from physics to the educational sciences, with an eye on the role of computer science in understanding the world. The lessons will be centered on students and give priority to discussion. More specifically, in each lesson,
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the lecturer will provide some definitions and epistemological considerations made in the epistemological literature and raise some questions to be discussed.
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Then, the participants will be invited to reflect on the definitions and discuss the questions raised in the first part of the lesson, drawing from their expertise and experience.
The lessons will be held in English. The lecturer will provide supplementary materials and texts through the e-learning platform.
Title of the lesson: Science
Abstract. “Science” is the most fundamental concept in science. However, defining what science is, and what distinguishes science from other forms of knowledge acquisition, is an extremely challenging task. In this lesson, two famous yet unsuccessful attempts to solve this problem – the so-called verificationism and Popper’s falsificationism – will be critically analysed and discussed, in search of more promising solutions. The distinction between “hard” and “soft” sciences will be challenged.
Title of the lesson: Theory and observation
Abstract. What is a theory, and what counts as an observation, in science? It is frequently assumed that theories are logically and conceptually distinct from observation, and especially that observation comes before theory formulation (both logically and temporally). However, the relation between the two is more complicated than this, and it may be even argued that observations somehow depend on pre-existing theories. The so-called “theory ladenness” of scientific observation (according to which observations are loaded with theory in science) will be critically discussed with the help of examples taken from the scientific literature.
Title of the lesson: Scientific explanation and understanding
Abstract. Scientific research pursues the explanation and understanding of natural phenomena. What exactly counts as a “good” explanation of a phenomenon? What objective and subjective factors determine one’s understanding of a phenomenon? Philosophers of science have produced several models of scientific explanation, which place constraints on the relationship between the phenomenon to be explained and the information provided to explain it. They include, among others, nomologico-deductive, teleological, functional, mechanistic, narrative explanations. These models of explanations will be sketched and discussed with reference to the various scientific research areas represented in the group of participants.
Title of the lesson: Scientific reductions and revolutions
Abstract. How do scientific theories change, what kinds of changes can they undergo, and what happens when a theory loses credit in favour of other theories? Are the concepts of “scientific revolution”, “paradigm”, “research program” really useful to describe scientific change? How can different theories be related to one another? These huge questions would deserve a course-length treatment: they will be briefly introduced in the final lesson of the course, drawing on classic text by Kuhn, Lakatos, Feyerabend, with an eye on the contemporary debate on the sociology of science.
Title of the lesson: to be defined
January 9, 2026, 4:00–6:00 p.m. CET
Lecture title: Science
Abstract:
The concept of “science” is the most fundamental concept in science itself. However, defining what science is and what distinguishes it from other forms of knowledge acquisition is an extremely challenging task. In this lecture, two famous but ultimately unsuccessful attempts to solve this problem—so-called verificationism and Popper’s falsificationism—will be critically analyzed and discussed in search of more promising solutions. The distinction between “hard” and “soft” sciences will also be questioned.
January 16, 2026, 4:00–6:00 p.m. CET
Lecture title: Theory and Observation
Abstract:
What is a theory, and what do we mean by observation in science? It is often assumed that theories are logically and conceptually distinct from observations, and in particular, that observation precedes theory formation (both logically and temporally). However, the relationship between the two is more complex, and it could even be argued that observations depend, to some extent, on pre-existing theories. The so-called theory-ladenness of scientific observation (the idea that observations are theory-laden) will be critically discussed with the help of examples from scientific literature.
January 23, 2026, 4:00–6:00 p.m. CET
Lecture title: Scientific Explanation and Understanding
Abstract:
Scientific research seeks to explain and understand natural phenomena. But what exactly constitutes a “good” explanation of a phenomenon? What objective and subjective factors determine our understanding of it?
Philosophers of science have developed several models of scientific explanation that define the relationship between the phenomenon to be explained and the information provided to explain it. Among these are the nomological-deductive, teleological, functional, mechanistic, and narrative models. These models will be outlined and discussed with reference to the various areas of scientific research represented among the participants.
January 30, 2026, 4:00–6:00 p.m. CET
Lecture title: Reduction and Scientific Revolutions
Abstract:
How do scientific theories change, what kinds of transformations can they undergo, and what happens when a theory loses credibility in favor of another? Are the concepts of scientific revolution, paradigm, and research program truly useful to describe scientific change? How can different theories be related to one another?
These major questions would each deserve a full course, but they will be briefly introduced in this final lecture, drawing on the classic works of Kuhn, Lakatos, and Feyerabend, with an eye toward the contemporary debate on the sociology of science.
The general objective of the course is to raise awareness of important philosophical questions that emerge in scientific research. Students will be asked to write a short, self-reflective paper of around 2,000 characters, summarising what they have learned on the course from a meta-cognitive perspective.
4 - Quality Education
Name of the faculty: Edoadro Datteri
Contact for registration: dottorati@unimib.it