Philosophy

Teacher(s)

Aucouturier Valérie;

Language

French

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :

Gain a solid understanding of the history of philosophy. Become familiar with the work of some of the major authors in the philosophical tradition. Distinguish a thesis from a philosophical argument. Produce a problematized reflection on a philosophical question. Defend and criticize philosophical arguments. Approach knowledge from a critical, reflective stance. Understand and explain a philosophical text.

Content

We will question the principles that guide human action and more specifically moral action. Are there moral facts? Can values be objective? On the contrary, are they necessarily relative to a culture, a time or an individual? Can one want evil? Are we always responsible for what we do? These are the questions which will be addresses in this introductory course to philosophy.

Teaching methods

Lecture course and text reading (reading booklet)
Students will only be provided with the course structure and will learn to take notes. They will have to read a number of texts in relation with the course contained in the reading booklet.

Chapitre 1. Introduction. What is philosophy ?
Chapitre 2. Where is the good? (I): Do moral values actually exist? (Platon)
Chapitre 3. Where is the good? (II): Shall we follow our desires? (D. Hume)
Chapitre 4. Where is the good? (III): Is it only intention that counts? (E. Kant)
Chapitre 5. Where is the good? (III): Does the end justify the means? (J. Bentham, J.S. Mill)
Chapitre 6. Where is the good? (IV): Putting oneself in someone else’s place (A. Smith)
Chapitre 7. Relativism (I). “What holds true on one side of the Pyrenees may be false on the other” (Pascal, Pensées, 60-294) (F. Nietzsche)
Chapitre 8. Relativism (II). Do I have to do what is good for me? (Ph. Foot)
Chapitre 9. Paasions (I). Is it possible to want what is evil? (Platon, Aristote)
Chapitre 10. Passions (II). Do I have to resist my passions? JP. Sartre)
Chapitre 11. Passions (III). How to resist my passions? (R. Descartes)
Chapitre 12. Passions (III). Am I the master in my own house? (S. Freud)
Chapitre 13. Conclusions.

Evaluation methods

Written examination which will consist in questions about the course and mandatory readings.

Bibliography

Le cours s'appuie sur des extraits de texte classiques de la philosophie

Faculty or entity

> ESPB