Cepticismo e Crítica da Metafísica .../Skepticism and the Critique of Metaphysics...

• António Manuel Martins

Objectives of the curricular unit and competences:

To study a range of philosophical texts published in the 18th century in order to get some familiarity with some of the most significant debates in philosophy and science. To enable students to think rigorously and consistently about philosophical questions. The students should get an ability to write well-argued and coherent work of their own.

Syllabus:

1. The rediscovery and transformation of Ancient Scepticism in France and Germany (18th century);

2. The “philosophes” and Scepticism;

3. Voltaire;

4. The critic of Metaphysics: materialism and atheism; scepticism and dogmatism; Wolff and his critics; the search for a new metaphysics;

5. Hume in France and Germany (second half of the 18th century).

Demonstration of the syllabus coherence with the curricular unit’s objectives.

The syllabus covers the main issues to the study of the scepticism and the critique of Metaphysics in France and Germany in the 18th century. The syllabus is coherent with the proposed objectives of acquisition of competences and instruments, at the historical and conceptual level, in order to understand and analyse a range of philosophical texts published in the 18th century, and to get some familiarity with some of the most significant debates in philosophy and science.

Teaching methodologies (including evaluation):

Seminar work with reading of texts in the original language (French and German).

Demonstration of the teaching methodologies coherence with the curricular unit’s objectives:

a) the lecturing by the professor in charge prepares, gives a general theoretic frame and introduces into the knowledge to be acquired;

b) the analytical reading of texts inserts central notions in the context of its argumentation, in order to specialization of knowledge;

c) the writing of papers is a moment of assimilation of knowledge and an essay of autonomous research;

d) the exercise of discussion and argumentation develops the competences in order to an active intervention in the philosophical debate;

e) the intervention of invited lecturers allows a comparison of points of view and a critical reflection.

Bibliografia principal:

Bibliografia a indicar na aula; o trabalho principal será feito a partir da leitura e comentário de textos da época nas línguas originais (francês e alemão).