Programs and Courses
Academic Director: Marc Leclerc sj
Scientific Director: Gennaro Auletta, PhD
Secretary: Mr. Nicola Riva
The aim of the specialization is to integrate philosophical studies with recent developments in the natural sciences. The current developments in the contemporary science allow today to connect areas that have become separated in modern times. In particular, we will consider the implications of the development of contemporary natural sciences for philosophy and our understanding of God.
In particular, the philosophical work of the Specialization follows three parallel paths: (1) a philosophy of science in the traditional sense; (2) an enquiry concerning knowledge in general and scientific knowledge in particular, paying special attention to the new mechanism of scientific explanation; (3) a philosophy of the natural being aimed at reaching a right integration between topical scientific problems on the one hand and traditional philosophical questions on the other.
Context
The Specialization "Science and Philosophy" of the Pontifical Gregorian University is a part of a larger project aiming at stimulating the dialogue between science, philosophy, and theology. This project is under the high patronage of the Pontifical Council for Culture and financially supported by a grant of the John Templeton Foundation. Its denomination is Science, Theology, and The Ontological Quest (STOQ) and collects six Pontifical Universities, Gregorian, Lateran, Regina Apostolorum, Angelicum, Holy Cross, and Salesian University.
The specialization covers the second (License) and the third (Doctoral) degree of studies. The License lasts two years. We offer 7/8 optional courses and 2 seminars each year (courses and seminars lasting 24 hrs).
The two main scientific areas are physics and biology, and any year is centered on one of them. The courses are centred every year on these scientific areas and their philosophical consequences.
The seminars,
on the other hand, are intended to serve as philosophical support for the
courses. There are two general themes for the seminars: (1) logic and
epistemology, and (2) ontology and metaphysics.
Programs and Courses
Research
The
Specialization promotes several research activities: in the frame of the
doctoral studies, concerning the organization of workshops, and groups of
students.
Doctoral and Research
Curriculum
The Specialization is connected with the Faculty of Theology and it is embedded in the curriculum for the License in Philosophy (second cycle). The curriculum of the license consists in 4 seminars, 8 optional courses and 6 compulsory courses. In order to obtain the license, students are also required to write a dissertation and to pass an oral and a written exam. The written exam consists in the redaction of a text about a theme chosen by the candidate among three ones. The oral exam is about one of two authors chosen by the candidate, about one among ten special philosophical themes chosen by the candidate, and about one among 12 general philosophical themes. In particular, apart from the compulsory courses prescribed for the second-cycle (6 general courses) and the study of 12 general themes, students following this track, on consultation with the Director of the Specialization, are required to:
(i) choose two authors whose works have a bearing on the study of the interaction between science and philosophy;
(ii) choose, among the ten required, 5 special themes about the interaction between science and philosophy and another 5 from the systematic section of the Faculty;
(iii) write their dissertation on a theme corresponding to some particular feature of the interaction between science and philosophy;
(iv) choose and follow 8 optional courses and 4 seminars, of which at least 4 courses and 2 seminars must be chosen from among the offering of the specialization according to the scheme below.
The foreign invited professors will deliver their lectures in either English or Italian. Therefore a prerequisite is a minimal knowledge of English (enough to follow the courses).
In order to be admitted to the License or the Doctoral degree in our Specialization it is necessary to previously obtain the admission to the Faculty of Philosophy by our Academic Authorities, namely the Philosophy Dean.
For further information about academic degrees, please visit the page www.unigre.it.
Themes
Authors
Grant for Studies in Science and Philosophy
The specialization in Science and Philosophy offers scholarships to students. The scholarship can be granted for one, two or three years. The scholarship is granted over subsequent years providing that the student makes the appropriate application and upon the approval of the directors of the specialization.
Doctoral Grants
Grant for Inscription Expenses
of Licentiate and Doctorate Studies
The specialization is conformed to the norms ruled by the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). The rating system used by the Gregorian University are equated to the credits of the ECTS. 6 general courses + 8 optional courses and 4 seminars amounts to 80 credits (2 + 4 for each seminar and 2 + 2 for each course), the final dissertation accounts for 17 credits, while the final written exam and the final oral exam to 6 and 17 credits respectively. Therefore, we have 120 credits in two years, i.e. 60 credits for each year, in accordance with the rules of the ECTS.