Key words
Philosophy.
Objectives
In the training module ‘Philosophy’, students distance themselves from the tangible reality of the course they’re on and their profession-to-be. The training module provides them with a set of powerful tools for enquiring about the course (and the profession), both as regards course content and basic principles. Creating and maintaining a ‘philosophical mindset’ is a priority in that respect: an attitude which allows the student to systematically study fixed standpoints and opinions. (S)he must question their validity, justification, rationale and fundamentals. In the context of this course, it’s also essential to instil a capacity for objective thought about people and society; we need to get the students to see the need for that.
The purpose of this training module is to shape these objectives by fostering and developing the following core skills from the training profile:
General core skills
General (generic) core skills
-1. Capacity for logical thought and reasoning power.
-2. The acquisition and assimilation of information.
-3. The ability to reflect critically on oneself and to work thematically (by making projects).
-4. Creativity.
-5. The ability to communicate information, ideas, problems and solutions effectively, both to specialists and to laypersons.
-6. A disposition toward lifelong learning.
The purpose of this training module is to give an introduction to Philosophy. In view of this introductory character, it was decided to place this training module ‘Philosophy’ on standard educational route 1. In this way this module serves as a pointer to general frames of reference and paradigms which the students (those on other courses too) can fall back on, as well in the standard educational route 2 as in the standard educational route 3.
Topics
The course consists of two parts: theoretical and applied.
The theoretical part is a historical overview course with links, in places, to thematic viewpoints and/or areas of deeper study.
We begin our journey through the annals of philosophy with the Greeks and end by dealing with a few 20th-century schools of philosophy.
The main themes of a certain philosopher are explained, set in a certain era and then brought up to date.
We focus on:
- the difference between myth, religion, philosophy and science;
- the distinction between idealism and materialism, between rationalism and empiricism;
- the conditions that conduce to well-being and happiness, the topics of freedom and responsibility, etc.
The following subjects, among others, are covered in this module:
Characterization of Philosophy:
- Definition;
- Philosophy and science;
- Acquisition of philosophical knowledge;
- The world as a complex entity;
- A specific approach.
Historical overview of Philosophy incl. an interpretation, historical background and making topical of the various authors/schools of philosophy:
- Greek philosophy: Pre-Socratic philosophy, the Golden Age of Greek philosophy, Greek and Roman philosophy after Aristotle;
- The Renaissance, Baroque and Enlightenment (The Age of Reason);
- Kantianism;
- Philosophy in the 19th century: romanticism and idealism, positivism, Schopenhauer and Kierkegaard;
- Philosophy in the 20th century: Sartre and Foucault.
Prerequisites
Entry-level skills
Exit qualifications in secondary education
Final Objectives
Exit-level skills
The core skills from the training profile listed in the ‘objectives’ section are fully underpinned by the following exit-level skills of the training module:
At the level of knowledge and comprehension
The students:
- Explain clearly how various schools of philosophical thought redound to the emancipatoryl development of every individual;
- Link individual and societal problem areas to philosophical and ethical paradigms;
- Define and describe correctly various world views, views of society and/or beliefs.
At the application level - skills
The students:
- Employ useful and objectively chosen information to address social issues;
- Relate their own world view and view of society to the social-philosophical context.
Materials used
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Supportive courseware (course materials and classroom equipment) and a syllabus: obtainable from the coursewear department;
Course notes that result from work done in smaller groups;
Course notes taken during lectures and classroom debates, online course readers, PowerPoint (PTT) slides,…
Study costs
The cost price is estimated at 15 euros.
Study guidance
Individual consultation (tutoring/monitoring) by appointment.
Contact details: item Lecturer(s).
Teaching Methods
Lectures: theory;
Interactive tutorials: an audiovisual lecture, a seminar debate,...;
Exercises;
Teaching based on a thematic approach in small groups, plus a group discussion: analyze philosophical texts (extracts) and then discuss them in class;
The debate is moderated by the lecturer as a practical exercise on ‘discourse analysis’: to flesh out a subject and the ability to adduce arguments in support of one’s standpoint.
Assessment
An examination for this training module is scheduled in the exam period at the end of the semester in which you took this course.
A written examination consisting of:
- open-ended questions: 3 questions, worth 60% of the marks;
- multiple choice questions: 2 sets of 10; these are worth 40% of the marks.
The examination is on any part of the entire course content.
The total number of questions is limited to what can be got through comfortably within the allotted time for the exam.
Resits
Provision is made for an analogous written exam.
Lecturer(s)
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