• Knowledge and understanding:
By the end of the class the students will possess a basic knowledge in contemporary philosophy of science, and an advanced capacity of using it in order to bring light on the methodology of planning. Particular attention will be given to the issue of the ontology of social reality, in order to investigate its epistemological effects.

• Applying knowledge and understanding:
The main goal of the class is precisely to make the students able to apply in a critical way a basic mastery of epistemology and theory of knowledge to the activity of designing and planning, in each possible occasion.

• Making judgements:
By the end of the class the student will be able to access to a self-reflective critical stance about her/his planning activity - a metalevel where philosophical concepts and problems as well as scientific theories about the mind are used to improve one''s capacity to control planning without limiting it. In particular, certainty about the objectivity of data planning leans on will be called into discussion.

• Communication skills:
The students will be able to make use of an essential set of concepts from philosophy of science and theory of knowledge, and to develop compelling arguments to support her/his positions concerning choices in designing and planning as well as about the reliability of the data those choices are grounded upon.

• Learning skills:
The class is aimed at letting the students have a more critical stance to designing and planning, which should bring to a more intimate and profound comprehension of the methods, techniques, history, authors and approaches in architecture and urban studies.