UCHUMPHI237.5 ECTSEnglishBachelor
Twentieth Century Theoretical Philosophy
Faculteit—
NiveauBachelor
Studiejaar2026-2027
Beschrijving
Course goals
The course is designed to allow the students to come to an independent, critical but well informed understanding of original philosophical texts. The larger theoretical goal is to introduce students to themes, motifs and debates that shaped philosophy in the twentieth century. The course aims at expanding the students’ reading in order to prepare them for further study at in senior seminars and at the postgraduate level.
Learning goals:
After completing this course students are able to
Relationship between tests and course goals
● Two essays worth 40% each. LG 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
● Participation and preparedness worth 20%. LG 1, 2, 4
Learning goals:
After completing this course students are able to
- are able to contextualize philosophical texts and debates from the early to the late twentieth century. (Assessment: class discussions, essays).
- are able to identify tenets and evaluate arguments on the basis of key texts from this period (Assessments: class discussions, essays).
- are able to critically interact with tenets and arguments from various philosophical traditions from this period. (Assessment: essays).
- express their general understanding of the main themes and developments in 20th Century philosophy. (Assessment: class discussions and essays).
Relationship between tests and course goals
● Two essays worth 40% each. LG 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
● Participation and preparedness worth 20%. LG 1, 2, 4
Content
This course investigates, from a 20th and 21st Century perspective, themes that have occupied philosophical thought over the past 2500 years. There are many different styles of philosophy; in this course we stress the unity within philosophical inquiry, while actively overcoming artificial divisions. 20th and 21st Century philosophy has often been divided into the so-called Analytic and Continental traditions. The purpose of this course is to focus on the problems shared by these seemingly opposed schools in such areas as philosophy of mind, language, epistemology, metaphysics, and philosophy of action. All of the philosophers studied in this course have made great contributions to our understanding of the world and our place in it. Quine, Heidegger, Davidson, Deleuze, Gadamer, Foucault, Rorty, Churchland, Wittgenstein, and Frege are among the authors who make up the readings. Through close analysis of their contributions the students are encouraged to deepen their familiarity with, and understanding of, the philosophical landscape.
Guided readings from selected authors’ landmark works are used in order to illuminate the fundamental questions; in-class discussions are centered on the various perspectives offered in the course material in order to generate lively debate. One of the primary objectives of the course is to awaken a sense of the importance of philosophical discourse.
Format
Guided readings from selected authors’ landmark works are used in order to illuminate the fundamental questions; in-class discussions are centered on the various perspectives offered in the course material in order to generate lively debate. One of the primary objectives of the course is to awaken a sense of the importance of philosophical discourse.
Format
- Readings from a series of primary texts and the course book will be discussed and debated twice weekly.
- Students are responsible for the preparation of two essays, each chosen from a variety of topics discussed in class.
- Continuous assessment will be based on class preparation and active participation.
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