Introduction to Philosophy - YBE003

• Title: Introduction to Philosophy
• Guaranteed by: Programme Liberal Arts and Humanities (24-SHVAJ)
• Faculty: Faculty of Humanities
• Actual: from 2023
• Semester: winter
• E-Credits: 5
• Examination process: winter s.:
• Hours per week, examination: winter s.:2/0, Ex [HT]
• Capacity: unknown / unknown (40)
• Min. number of students: unlimited
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: not taught
• Language: English
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Teaching methods: full-time
• Guarantor: Mgr. Stanislav Synek, Ph.D.; Mgr. Milan Hanyš, Ph.D.
• Class: Courses unavailable to incoming students
• Incompatibility : YBZB30000
• Is pre-requisite for: YBE011

Annotation

English

Last update: Mgr. Stanislav Synek, Ph.D. (17.09.2018)

Introduction to Philosophy is a compulsory course taken in the 1st semester of study. Students are required to write a mid-term paper and to pass an oral exam during the exam period. During the course, we will read, comment and discuss selected passages from the texts listed in different sets. Active participation in discussions is expected. Both the course and the exam are focused on reading and understanding primary philosophical texts. Other sources are welcomed only as long as one is able to distinguish between different interpretative perspectives.

Registration requirements

Last update: Mgr. Eva Švancarová (18.08.2021)

This course is specifically designed for 1st grade students of Liberal Arts and Humanities programme, therefore on-line registration is disabled.

 

Syllabus

Last update: Mgr. Stanislav Synek, Ph.D. (03.10.2018)

Class readings

1.       Introduction. 

2.       Plato: Phaedo 57a-72d

3.       Plato: Phaedo 72d-84b

4.       Aristotle: On the Soul I 1 (402a1-403b19)

5.       Aristotle: On the Soul II 1-3 (412a1-5a13)

6.       R. Descartes: Meditations on First Philosophy (1^st and 2^nd Meditation)

7.       R. Descartes: Meditations on First Philosophy (3^rd Meditation)

8.       Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics I 1-7 (1094a1-1098b8)

9.       Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics II 1-6 (1103a14-1107a26)

10.   I. Kant: Groundworks of the Metaphysics of Morals (Introduction, part I)

11.   I. Kant: Groundworks of the Metaphysics of Morals (part II)

12.   D. Hume: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, sec. 1-3

13.   D. Hume: An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, sec. 4-5

Course completion requirements

Last update: Mgr. Stanislav Synek, Ph.D. (13.09.2018)

For the exam, there are three sets of primary philosophical literature arranged into thematic blocks. Each student is to pick one set of literature from the list and read at least three titles listed in it, paying special attention to main ideas and arguments of the authors.

 

List of sets of literature

1.       What is man?

a.       Aristotle: On the Soul, book I, chap. 1, books II-III

b.      Descartes, R.: Meditations on First Philosophy

c.       Locke, J.: An Essay concerning Human Understanding, book II, chap. XXVII (Of Identity and Diversity)

d.      Plato: Phaedo

 

2.       Freedom and action

a.       Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics, books I-III

b.      Hume, D.: An Enquiry concerning the Human Understanding, section 8 (Of Liberty and Necessity)

c.       Kant, I.: Groundworks of the Metaphysics of Morals (Introduction, part 1-2)

d.      Mill, J. S.: Utilitarianism

 

3.       Knowledge and understanding

a.       Aristotle: Metaphysics, book I, chap. 1-3

b.      Descartes, R.: Meditations on First Philosophy

c.       Hume, D.: An Enquiry concerning the Human Understanding, section 1-8

d.      Plato: Meno