Ontology
Code
711031064
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Filosofia
Credits
6
Teacher in charge
Mário Jorge Carvalho
Weekly hours
4
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
Acquire a basic ability to: 1) understand the meaning and specificity of Ontology as a major component of philosophical tradition and a field of current research. 2) understand the position of Ontology as the sought after science (zêtoumenê epistêmê). 3) understand the articulation between Ontology and the other branches of philosophy. 4) understand the articulation between Ontology and the different branches of science. 5) understand the various approaches that have been taken in trying to provide an answer to ontological questions and to reach the missing knowledge (zêtoumenê epistêmê). 6) understand the problem of a possible failure of the constitution of ontology as a science, as well as the difficulty of the reasons for such failure, its meaning and its consequences. 7) understand the most important ontological concepts. 8) understand, compare and use these concepts critically and independently. 9) independently interpret and discuss doctrinal views in the field of Ontology.
Prerequisites
Not applicable
Subject matter
The question of the sought-after science
How does pre-scientific everyday consciousness leave room for the pursuit of missing knowledge, and notably for the pursuit of knowledge in scientific disciplines? And how do scientific disciplines in turn leave room for the pursuit of universal knowledge of all reality? How is there any room for Ontology as a sought-after science (zêtoumenê epistêmê)? Is there any need for this kind of knowledge? And what is Ontology about?
Our purpose is to discuss these issues. The analysis is based on two major components of the corpus aristotelicum, namely:
Metaphysics I, in particular Aristotles survey of different levels of knowledge (from minimal to superlative knowledge) and his notion of malista epistêton;
Aristotles reappraisal of this issue in Metaphysics IV, where he analyses what he terms epistêmai en merei and discusses both the need and functions of an epistêmê tou ontos hê on and the challenges and difficulties facing it.
Bibliography
ARISTÓTELES, Aristoteles Metaphysics, ed. W. D. Ross. Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1924,
2 vols.
Aristotle in Twenty Three Volumes. Cambridge (Mass.)/London, Harvard University Press/W. Heinemann (Loeb Classical Library), suc. reed.
Metaphysique, ed. J. Tricot, Paris, 1966, 2 vols. suc. reed.
La Metafisica, ed. G. Reale. Napoli, Loffredo, 1968, 2 vols.
Metafisica, ed. T.C. Martinez. Madrid, Gredos, 1994, Barcelona, RBA, 2000,
Teaching method
Course of theoretical-practical character. The methodology used combines a theoretical examination of questions and the interpretation of texts. Phenomenological analysis. Discussion of alternative perspectives, objections, counter-examples, etc.
Evaluation method
Individual evaluation. Obligatory written exam (2/3). Each student will have to present a written work on an approved topic and discuss it with the lecturer (1/3).