Questions regarding Philosophical Anthropology
Code
722031032
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas
Department
Filosofia
Credits
10
Teacher in charge
Mário Jorge Carvalho
Weekly hours
3 letivas + 1 tutorial
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
a) Acquire a high level of knowledge in the field of Philosophical Anthropology and in particular a detailed knowledge of the fundamental concepts and of the history of Philosophical Anthropology, of its methodological and doctrinal controversies and of its articulation with other branches of philosophy and science.
b) Acquire detailed knowledge of the fundamental texts in the field of Philosophical Anthropology, with a mastering of past interpretations and of the current state of research.
c) Acquire a high ability to analyse, compare, criticise and use anthropological concepts, and also to independently discuss problems and doctrinal views in the field of Philosophical Anthropology.
d) Acquire the ability to carry out research work under supervision in this field that meets high scientific quality standards.
e) Acquire the ability to carry out independent research in this area.
Prerequisites
Not applicable
Subject matter
Either-Ors and Mixtures Platos Philebus
The Philebus is a labyrinthine discussion of some fundamental questions concerning human life, its structures, etc.
Our purpose is to provide a comprehensive interpretation of this dialogue. The Philebus is like a jigsaw puzzle. It has to be studied piece by piece, and it has to be pieced together. This involves discussing syntactic and semantic issues, following the connections with the corpus platonicum, considering different methodological approaches and interpretive possibilities, investigating the ideas and concepts developed by Plato, analyzing the connection between the different jigsaw pieces, etc.
Our purpose is to find out what the Philebus has to say about the above-mentioned questions. What are we after? What are we faced with? What is life about? By adapting Hume´s geography of the mind, we can say that our task is to study and discuss the intriguing geography of human life that we find sketched in Platos Philebus.
Bibliography
The Philebus of Plato, ed. with Introduction, Notes and Appendices by R. G. Bury, Cambridge, University Press, 1897, reed. Salem (New Hampshire), Ayer, 1988;
Platonis Philebus, rec, G. Stallbaum, Gothae, Hennings, 1842;
Platonis Philebus with Introduction and Notes by. C. Badham, London, John Parker & Son, 1855/The Philebus of Plato. Introduction, Notes & Appendix by C. Badham, Edinburgh, Williams & Norgate, 1878;
Platon Philebos, Übersetzung und Kommentar v. D. Frede, Göttingen, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 1997;
Platone Filebo, introduzione, traduzione , note etc., di M. Migliori, Milano, Bompiani, 2000;
The Tragedy and Comedy of Life. Platos Philebus, Translated and with Commentary by S. Benardete, Chicago & London, The University of Chicago Press, 1991.
Teaching method
Seminar-oriented classes. Reading, interpretation and commentary of a philosophical text. Analysis and discussion of interpretative issues, and related philosophical questions, concepts and problems.
Evaluation method
Presentation of a research paper (15-20 pages) on a topic individually agreed upon with the Lecturer and discussion of the paper presented (3/4). Class participation (participation in the discussion) (1/4)