2024

Philosophy and Psychoanalysis

Name: Philosophy and Psychoanalysis
Code: FIL12727L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area: Philosophy

Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Regime de Frequência: Presencial

Sustainable Development Goals

Learning Goals

At the end of the course students should be apt to:
• Understand the relevance of Psychoanalysis in its complexity;
• Identify the novelty of its impact on contemporary culture and contemporary philosophy;
• Master the main concepts of Freudian psychoanalysis;
• Autonomously apply some of those concepts to a general hermeneutics of culture;
• Command at least two of the fundamental texts of the psychoanalytical movement.

Contents

1.Psychoanalysis as a fundamental trend of European culture:
The cultural-historic origins: science, philosophy, literature
The Freudian revolution:therapy and anthropology
Impact:evolution of psychoanalysis and dynamics of western culture
2.The invention of psychoanalysis
Freud’s fundamental discoveries
The method:talking cure and anthropological hermeneutics
Psychology and metapsychology
3.Psychoanalysis as a anthropological hermeneutics
Interpretation-in philosophy and in psychoanalytical therapy
Unconscious and symbolic language
Freud,“master of suspicion”
Pleasure principle and reality principle;Eros and Thanatos
From dreams to cultural productions–art, literature, myth, religion
4.Psychoanalysis’ philosophical repercussion:some ethical and existential issues
The I-structure and the ethical subject
Freedom and“fear of freedom”
Rational behaviour and reality principle
Aggression and the“discontents” of civilization
Search for good life and philosophy as therapy:existential analysis

Teaching Methods

Informative theoretical and practical lectures that target critical text analysis (both of written and filmic texts),
and foster application of knowledge to the assessment of new cases. Some research will be conducted in direct
interaction with the local community.

Evaluation can consist of either a final exam, worth 100% of the student’s final grade, or through continuous
assessment, where attendance is worth 10% of the final grade, an in-class proof is worth 45% and a home made
practical essay is worth 45%.

Teaching Staff