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Issues in Ethics

Objectives

1. High level of understanding of the meaning and specificity of Ethics and of its articulation with other branches of philosophy and other scientific subjects;
2. High level of knowledge of the various approaches that have been taken in trying to provide an answer to ethical questions;
3. High level of knowledge of the most important concepts involved in the studying of Ethics;
4. High ability to analyse, compare, criticise and use these concepts, and also to independently interpret and discuss concepts or propositions in the Ethics area;
5. Detailed knowledge of the fundamental texts in the Ethics area, with a mastering of past interpretations, of the current state of research and of all the relevant bibliography;
6. Carrying out research work under supervision in the Ethics area, that demonstrates original explanations and adheres to scientific quality standards;
7. Acquire the skills necessary for carrying out research independently in the Ethics area.

General characterization

Code

722031043

Credits

10.0

Responsible teacher

Mário Jorge Pereira de Almeida Carvalho

Hours

Weekly - 3

Total - 280

Teaching language

Portuguese

Prerequisites

Not applicable

Bibliography

G. W. F. HEGEL, Gesammelte Werke. 9. Phänomenologie des Geistes, Hamburg, Meiner, 1980
Werke in 20 Bänden. 3. Phänomenologie des Geistes, Frankfurt a.M., Suhrkamp, 1970
Phänomenologie des Geistes, ed. H.-F. Wessels, Hamburg, Meiner, 1988
The Phenomenology of Spirit, ed. T. Pinkard, Cambridge, C.U.P, 2018
The Phenomenology of Spirit, ed. P. Fuss/J. Dobbins, Notre Dame, Univ. of Notre Dame Pr., 2019
Phénoménologie de l'esprit, ed. B. Bourgeois, Paris, Vrin, 2018
La phénoménologie de l'esprit, I-2, ed. J. Hyppolite, Paris, Aubier, 1983
Phénoménologie de l'esprit, ed. P.-J. Labarrière, Paris, Ellipses, 2018
Fenomenologia dello spirito, ed. De Negri, Firenze, Nuova Italia, 1996
Fenomenología del espíritu, ed. A. Gómez Ramos, Madrid, Abada, 2010
Fenomenología del espíritu, ed. J. Chamorro Mielke, Barcelona, RBA, 2014
Fenomenología del espíritu, ed. M. Jiménez Redondo,Valencia, Pre-Textos, 2015
Fenomenología del espíritu, ed. G. Leyva/W.Roces/Ciud. de México, Fondo de cultura económica, 2017

Teaching method

This curricular unit has a theoretical-practical character.
Seminar-oriented classes.
Reading and interpretation of and commentary on the relevant philosophical texts and related philosophical questions and concepts.
The teaching methodology combines: a) a thorough interpretation of the texts in question (of their different components and of their connection with other texts) b) a theoretical analysis of philosophical problems, and c) a discussion of alternative views, objections, counter-examples, etc.

Evaluation method

Evaluation Methodologies - Class participation (participation in the discussion)(25%), Individual appraisal. Each student will have to present a research paper on a topic individually agreed upon with the Lecturer and then discuss this paper with the latter.(75%)

Subject matter

The Metamorphoses of Morality in Hegel’s Phenomenology

Our starting point is Hegel’s reception of Kant’s views on the categorical imperative (and realizing that there is a world of difference between them and the stereotyped version of Kant's ethical thought).
The main focus lies on Hegel’s analysis of tensions within Morality itself – from his discussion of the “moral view of the world” and its inner crisis, through the chapter on religion and the final collapse of ‘spiritual religion’ in comedy, up to the breakthrough of ‘revealed religion’ and the so-called ‘absolute knowing’. The point being that this kaleidoscopic series of breakthroughs and catastrophes is supposed to provide the roadmap of all possible developments of Morality.
Our task is to discuss all this. But what is at stake is not just a doxographic matter. It is rather the very question as to whether the "ought" itself is anything more than a fata morgana – and if so, what its nature and implications might be.