Philosophy of Nature

Teacher(s)

Guay Alexandre;

Language

French

Prerequisites

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Main themes

This course is intended as an introduction to the different nature-related approaches to philosophy. The broad historical perspective adopted will examine the influences of both the history of philosophy and the history of science. The course will highlight the similarities, but also the differences, of the ontology of nature offered by the philosophy of material science, the philosophy of life sciences and the philosophy of the mind.

The hermeneutic approach will also be covered. Part of the course will involve a schematic analysis of the significance of nature for humans, thereby linking this reflection on nature with philosophical anthropology within the context of issues such as modern-day ecology or the relationship between nature and subjectivity.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	The aim of the course is to introduce students to metaphysical, historical and analytical reflection on the concept of nature, taking into consideration the major achievements of the philosophical tradition and those of modern science. By the end of the course, students must be familiar with the main themes and the key philosophers who developed thought on nature. They will be able to produce a clear, brief and accurate oral or written presentation on a topic. They will be able to take a critical distance from the ideas discussed and argue rigorously in favour of them. They will be able to navigate the primary and secondary philosophy of nature literature.

Content

The course will be divided into 7 unequal parts. In each part, we will highlight the normative consequences implied by the ontological positioning discussed.
1) Brief discussion of the relationship between philosophy of nature and the sciences and other branches of philosophy.
2) Philosophy of nature among the pre-Socratics and Plato.
3) Aristotle's philosophy of nature.
4) Descartes' mechanistic philosophy of nature.
5) Nomological philosophy of nature (Newton, du Châtelet, Leibniz).
6) Nature as a product of history (Darwin, Mayr, Lewontin).
7) Contemporary reflections.

Teaching methods

Evaluation methods

First session: Written exam (85%), partial (15%).
Second session: written exam

Online resources

Texts and links on the Moodle site.

Bibliography

Voir site Moodle.

Teaching materials

• Moodle website

Faculty or entity

> EFIL