Teacher(s)
Language
French
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
| The course “Philosophy and moral philosophy” aims at giving law and political science students theoretical benchmarks and keys to comprenhension in order to enable them to find their way in the history of philosophy, understand its evolution and major issues and find the reflexive, conceptual and critical resources necessary to question not only some of the big challenges of our times, but also certain principles and notions they are being taught in other courses (freedom, justice, State, subject, responsibility, democracy, power, truth etc.) Four skills are being honed during classes and will be evaluated during the exam: 1) Mastery of concept and capacity to define the major philosophical notions 2) Comparison of the different types of philosophical thought through the analysis of the divergence and/or convergence of their respective arguments 3) Textual commentary allowing the interpretation of textual elements in the light of the notions and theory taught in class 4) Critical distantiation from the taught doctrines on the basis of a short essay developing one of the following points a) internal criticism of an author seen in class b) external criticism or c) practical application of a philosophical doctrine seen in class |
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Content
This course, offered throughout the academic year, aims to familiarize students with the apparent "strangeness" of philosophical inquiry, pursuing a dual objective.
On the one hand, it seeks to make students aware that philosophical thought reflects questions inherent to every individual and has played a significant role in shaping our ways of thinking. We will thus endeavor to highlight how the "problems" encountered by philosophers of the past, as well as the concepts they developed to address them, can help us formulate our own responses to the challenges we face today. By focusing on the structure of philosophical argumentation—its conceptual presuppositions, logical mechanisms, and the issues it tackles—this course will train students in the skills of problematization and argumentation.
On the other hand, the course will foster general knowledge and develop competencies particularly relevant for future legal scholars and political scientists. Through the analysis and comparison of classical and contemporary philosophers, close attention to philosophical texts will cultivate students’ abilities in close reading and rigorous interpretation.
While this course falls under the domain of general philosophy, it is specifically designed for students in law and political science, addressing issues of direct relevance to these fields.
To allow all students to immediately grasp the vitality of philosophical reflection, the course will center on the moral and political nature of human beings, thereby interrogating foundational concepts in legal and political thought: action, responsibility, freedom, autonomy, good and evil, justice, the aims of politics, and the relationship between truth and justice.
To this end, we will undertake a selective journey through the history of philosophy, focusing on key figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Rousseau, and Kant, while also engaging with more contemporary thinkers whose work continues to inform political and legal reflection today (e.g., Philippa Foot, Simone de Beauvoir). We will take the time to read and reconstruct the internal logic of selected texts by these authors.
On the one hand, it seeks to make students aware that philosophical thought reflects questions inherent to every individual and has played a significant role in shaping our ways of thinking. We will thus endeavor to highlight how the "problems" encountered by philosophers of the past, as well as the concepts they developed to address them, can help us formulate our own responses to the challenges we face today. By focusing on the structure of philosophical argumentation—its conceptual presuppositions, logical mechanisms, and the issues it tackles—this course will train students in the skills of problematization and argumentation.
On the other hand, the course will foster general knowledge and develop competencies particularly relevant for future legal scholars and political scientists. Through the analysis and comparison of classical and contemporary philosophers, close attention to philosophical texts will cultivate students’ abilities in close reading and rigorous interpretation.
While this course falls under the domain of general philosophy, it is specifically designed for students in law and political science, addressing issues of direct relevance to these fields.
To allow all students to immediately grasp the vitality of philosophical reflection, the course will center on the moral and political nature of human beings, thereby interrogating foundational concepts in legal and political thought: action, responsibility, freedom, autonomy, good and evil, justice, the aims of politics, and the relationship between truth and justice.
To this end, we will undertake a selective journey through the history of philosophy, focusing on key figures such as Plato, Aristotle, Rousseau, and Kant, while also engaging with more contemporary thinkers whose work continues to inform political and legal reflection today (e.g., Philippa Foot, Simone de Beauvoir). We will take the time to read and reconstruct the internal logic of selected texts by these authors.
Teaching methods
The course is delivered in a lecture format (ex cathedra), but allows space for student questions.
Course materials (PowerPoint presentations), which outline the main components of the lectures in a concise but non-exhaustive manner, are made available via Moodle. These materials are intended to be supplemented by students’ personal notes.
Methodological training is also provided in the form of a mock exam each semester.
For this purpose, detailed instructions and methodological guidance are given, online work sessions are scheduled, and submitted assignments are assessed by the instructor, who provides personalized feedback to each student. These mock exam grades do not count toward the final average.
Finally, a forum is available on Moodle, where students may post questions to the course instructor up until two days before each exam session.
Course materials (PowerPoint presentations), which outline the main components of the lectures in a concise but non-exhaustive manner, are made available via Moodle. These materials are intended to be supplemented by students’ personal notes.
Methodological training is also provided in the form of a mock exam each semester.
For this purpose, detailed instructions and methodological guidance are given, online work sessions are scheduled, and submitted assignments are assessed by the instructor, who provides personalized feedback to each student. These mock exam grades do not count toward the final average.
Finally, a forum is available on Moodle, where students may post questions to the course instructor up until two days before each exam session.
Evaluation methods
Assessment takes the form of a written exam, conducted in French.
In line with the intended learning outcomes of the course, the evaluation includes several exercises designed to assess the following skills:
The exam questions will focus on students’ understanding of the main conceptual structures of the course and the philosophical texts that underpin it.
As this is a year-long course, the grade obtained in January may exempt students from the first part of the course and will count for half of the final grade in June and September, provided it is equal to or greater than 10 out of 20. Students who pass the January exam will therefore only be assessed on the second semester’s material in June (or September), with their January grade retained for the final average.
Students who score below 10 out of 20 in January will not retain that grade and will have two further opportunities to pass: their June (and/or September) exam will cover the entire year’s material.
Students will be able to review their graded exams within one month of the publication of results. The date of this review session will be announced at least one week in advance (Art. 137, Décret Paysage).
In line with the intended learning outcomes of the course, the evaluation includes several exercises designed to assess the following skills:
- Comparison of multiple philosophical positions on a specific question.
- Explanation and interpretation of a philosophical text excerpt, along with the ability to situate it within the broader framework of the author's thought.
The exam questions will focus on students’ understanding of the main conceptual structures of the course and the philosophical texts that underpin it.
As this is a year-long course, the grade obtained in January may exempt students from the first part of the course and will count for half of the final grade in June and September, provided it is equal to or greater than 10 out of 20. Students who pass the January exam will therefore only be assessed on the second semester’s material in June (or September), with their January grade retained for the final average.
Students who score below 10 out of 20 in January will not retain that grade and will have two further opportunities to pass: their June (and/or September) exam will cover the entire year’s material.
Students will be able to review their graded exams within one month of the publication of results. The date of this review session will be announced at least one week in advance (Art. 137, Décret Paysage).
Other information
For students in the Certificate in Philosophy and Citizenship Education, this course is worth 15 credits.
Online resources
Course materials (PowerPoint presentations) are available on Moodle.
Throughout the academic year, students are expected to watch or listen to selected films and/or radio broadcasts. These resources will also be accessible via Moodle.
Throughout the academic year, students are expected to watch or listen to selected films and/or radio broadcasts. These resources will also be accessible via Moodle.
Bibliography
Il n’y a pas d’ouvrage de référence dont la consultation serait obligatoire. Des éléments bibliographiques pertinents seront indiqués dans les supports de cours.
Teaching materials
- Les supports de cours (powerpoints) sont disponibles sur moodle.
Faculty or entity
