URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/W_BA_MND2

Course Objective

The student acquires the ability: 1. To recognize and interpret the fundamental questions within modern and contemporary philosophy; 2. To identify and explain the basic ideas and concepts of some important philosophers from the 17th-20th century; 3. to make connections, and to differentiate between these concepts and ideas. 4. to read, analyze, and interpret primary philosophical texts; 5. to further develop argumentative skills, orally and in writing.

Course Content

In this course the most important thinkers from the philosophical history of the 17th until the 20th century will be discussed. It concerns philosophers who have had an ineffaceable influence on philosophical thinking in general and thinking about science and culture in particular. The following philosophers are discussed in Modern philosophy: Descartes, Hume, Kant, Hegel. Concerning Contemporary Philosophy, the course is presently under construction. Four philosophers will be addressed. Info on the program will follow on Canvas. Presently, Nietzsche, James, Peirce, Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Horkheimer/Adorno, Marcuse, Arendt, Foucault, Deleuze belong to the possible candidates.

Teaching Methods

Lectures to introduce the philosophical movement and philosopher's work; text reading seminars in which a text(fragment) of the philosopher is discussed. Attendance of 80% of the text reading seminars in the classes on Modern Philosophy and in the classes on Contemporary Philosophy is mandatory.

Method of Assessment


- Assigments about the primary texts (complete/incomplete) (assessment of learning objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, 5);
- Midterm test on Modern Philosophy with essay questions (50%) (assessment of learning objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, 5);
- Final test on Contemporary Philosophy with essay questions (50%)(assessment of learning objectives 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) .
- There is a mandatory attendance of 80% in the lectures in part I and 80% in the lectures in part II in order to achieve learning objectives 4 and 5.

Literature

The literature list will be published at Canvas two weeks before the start of the course.

Target Audience

The course is part of the minor Philosophy.

Recommended background knowledge

Great Minds I

Explanation Canvas

Two weeks before the start of the course, a detailed program will be made available through Canvas.
Academic year1/09/2431/08/25
Course level6.00 EC

Language of Tuition

  • English

Study type

  • Master
  • Bachelor