Place of Philosophy in the contemporary Society

Objectives

At the end of the seminar, the student should be able to:
1- assess critically the different conceptions of philosophy throughout history and their relevance for the
contemporary society;
2- understand and analyze the role of philosophy in the domain of humanistic culture;
3- apply the philosophical reflection on the nature of practical rationality to the moral and political domain;
4- explore the possibilities of an intervention of philosophy in the public debate.

Program

1- Conceptions of philosophy.
2- Philosophy and humanistic culture (I) – the humanistic idea of Bildung (Schiller, Humboldt, Hegel and Gadamer)
3- Philosophy and humanistic culture (II) – virtue ethics
4- The critique of humanism in the 20th century: Heidegger and Foucault.
5- Philosophy and public debate (I) – Habermas
6- Philosophy and public debate (II) – Rawls
7- Pragmatism and the social mission of philosophy
8- Postmodernism (Lyotard and Derrida)

Teaching Methodologies

The seminar sessions begin with a lecture by the teacher, followed by a collective discussion of the session’s
subject.
The following learning activities play a major role:

- to read the recommended bibliography;
- to discuss the taught subjects;
- analysis of fundamental texts;
- personal supervision of the student’s work.

The evaluation will be made on the basis of the presentation of a research paper, with an extension of 12-15 pages. Before handing the paper in, the student should present it orally and debate it in a special seminar session.

Bibliography

Gadamer, H.-G., Verdade e Método, Petrópolis, Ed. Vozes, 1998,
Habermas, J., Moral Consciousness and Communicative Action, Cambridge, Polity Press, 1995.

Heidegger, M., Carta sobre o humanismo, Lisboa, Guimarães Editores, 1985.
Lyotard, A condição pós-moderna, Lisboa, Gradiva, s.d.
Rawls, J., Political Liberalism, New York, Columbia University Press, 1996.
Rorty, R., Contingência, ironia e solidariedade, Lisboa, Ed. Presença, 1994.
Schiller, F., Sobre a educação estética do ser humano numa série de cartas, Lisboa, Imprensa Nacional - Casa da
Moeda, 1993.
Slote, M. (ed.), Virtue Ethics, Oxford, Oxford University Press, 1997