UVSRPCSSF1 A Human Being and Society in Present Philosophy

Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Summer 2015
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Dušan Janák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Dušan Janák, Ph.D.
Institute of Public Administration and Social Policy – Faculty of Public Policies in Opava
Prerequisites (in Czech)
žádné
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
Course objectives
The aim of the course is the philosophical view on key social and political problems of present world in such a way that these are reasoned in concepts of pragmatism, hermeneutics, structuralism and feminism in contrast to current neo-liberalistic concepts. Interpretation nodal point of comparison of specific approaches is the concept of subject (individual) and society and their relation, issue of freedom and democracy. The students will learn principal philosophical thoughts of J. Dewey, P. Ricoeur, M. Foucalt and I. Young who point out the limits of classical liberalistic concept of individual freedom, private ownership and democracy (Fukuyama). The aim is to provide the students with a view on philosophical rudiments of current opinions on social problems, their typology and supply them with ability of deeper analysis and argumentation.
Syllabus
  • 1. Classical pragmatism (W. James., J. Dewey). Ontological and epistemological aspect of their philosophy
    2. J. Dewey and concept of individual, society and democracy
    3. Pragmatism of Karel Čapek
    4. Concept of hermeneutics, philosophical hermeneutics and theory of social development. The role of historical legacy and its interpretation
    5. The importance of psychoanalysis of S. Freud for criticism of Cartesian concept of subject
    6. M. Foucalt and theory of subjectivism of powers. Theory of historical development and development of cognition.
    7. The contribution of feminism to overcoming of modern concept of subject as universal subject.
    8. Gender conditioned subject in its understanding and concepts of feminism. Criticism of society as men-dominant.
    9. Philosophic-political concept of I. Young. Criticism of classical concept of alterity and its impact for theory of society
    10. Fukuyama and his The End of History. The freedom of individual, private ownership and democracy as final stage of development of society
    11. The manifestation of Cartesian concept of subject and its consequences in present day (e.g. ecological crisis)
    12. Postmodernism of J. Baudrillard and criticism of society. Aporia of philosophical way out of postmodenism.
Literature
    required literature
  • HOLZBACHOVÁ, I. Dějiny společenských teorií. Brno: MU, 2000. info
  • PETŘÍČEK, M. Úvod do současné filozofie. Praha: Hermann a synové, 1999. info
  • KIS, J. (ed.). Současná politická filosofie. Praha: Oikoymenh, 1997. info
  • BALLESTREM, K., OTTMANN, H. Politická filosofie 20. století. Praha: Oikoymenh, 1993. info
    recommended literature
  • ANZENBACHER, A. Úvod do filozofie. Praha:Portál, 2004. ISBN 80-7178-804-X. info
  • HONNETH, A. Sociální filozofie a postmoderní etika. Praha: Filosofia, 1996. info
  • FUKUYAMA, F. The End of History and the Last Man. London: Penguin, 1992. info
  • YOUNG, I. M. Justice and the Politics of Difference. Princeton: Princeton UP, 1990. info
Teaching methods
Interactive lecture
Lecture supplemented with a discussion
Assessment methods
Written exam
Oral exam
The analysis of student 's performance
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
Teacher's information
The access to exam presupposes active participation in tutorial (study of literature to each topic and their discussion in tutorial) and written seminar paper. Written exam will test basic orientation in the course content.
The course is also listed under the following terms Summer 2008, Summer 2009, Summer 2010, Summer 2011, Summer 2012, Summer 2013, Summer 2014, Summer 2016.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Summer 2015, recent)
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