2024
Problems of Metaphysics and Epistemology I
Name: Problems of Metaphysics and Epistemology I
Code: FIL12728L
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Philosophy
Teaching languages: Portuguese
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
I. To achieve an historical knowledge of the articulation of the metaphysical, epistemic, and epistemological
problems, in the Philosophical Thought from Antiquity to the beginning of the Contemporary Age.
II. To articulate this historical knowledge with the significant moments in the history of science and technology,
enabling the understanding of the metaphysical systems of thought, the epistemological conceptions and the
scientific crises, in conjunction with the philosophical tradition and the prevailing cultural conceptions.
III. To achieve a comparative understanding even introductory to non-Western knowledge systems (India, China,
the Islamic world) that have established important epistemological and metaphysical traditions.
IV. To philosophically problematize the notion of "true", a crucial articulation between the epistemic and
epistemological perspetives, on the one hand, and its metaphysical dimension, on the other.
problems, in the Philosophical Thought from Antiquity to the beginning of the Contemporary Age.
II. To articulate this historical knowledge with the significant moments in the history of science and technology,
enabling the understanding of the metaphysical systems of thought, the epistemological conceptions and the
scientific crises, in conjunction with the philosophical tradition and the prevailing cultural conceptions.
III. To achieve a comparative understanding even introductory to non-Western knowledge systems (India, China,
the Islamic world) that have established important epistemological and metaphysical traditions.
IV. To philosophically problematize the notion of "true", a crucial articulation between the epistemic and
epistemological perspetives, on the one hand, and its metaphysical dimension, on the other.
Contents
1. The problematic dimension of knowledge and truth: epistemic and epistemological, logical and metaphysical
aspects. Knowing and acting, thinking and living: perception, reasoning, and arguing.
2. The "philosophy" as "way of life" and the fundamental debates between the doctrinal currents, from Antiquity
until the end of Hellenism. Skepticism and parretic life. References to China and India.
3. The doctrinal controversies during the Middle Ages. The questioning of intellection. The problem of universals
and the crisis of Scholastic. The question of individuation. Medieval sciences and technologies. The parallel
developments in the Islamic world.
4. Principal epistemological debats, from Nicholas of Cusa to Kant. Magic, religion and humanism and the
"modern science". The galilaico-Cartesian paradigm. The Newtonian conception of science. Disputes between
"empiricists" and "rationalists". The range of critical project Kant: to know, to act, to judge.
aspects. Knowing and acting, thinking and living: perception, reasoning, and arguing.
2. The "philosophy" as "way of life" and the fundamental debates between the doctrinal currents, from Antiquity
until the end of Hellenism. Skepticism and parretic life. References to China and India.
3. The doctrinal controversies during the Middle Ages. The questioning of intellection. The problem of universals
and the crisis of Scholastic. The question of individuation. Medieval sciences and technologies. The parallel
developments in the Islamic world.
4. Principal epistemological debats, from Nicholas of Cusa to Kant. Magic, religion and humanism and the
"modern science". The galilaico-Cartesian paradigm. The Newtonian conception of science. Disputes between
"empiricists" and "rationalists". The range of critical project Kant: to know, to act, to judge.
Teaching Methods
The teaching combines lectures by the teachers with active methodologies, involving the participation, research
and presentation by the students:
1. Oral presentation of the theoretical syllabus, aided, when possible, by audiovisual means;
2. Summaries of the subjects taught, indicating the specific texts support;
3. Reading, analysis and discussion of selected texts and oral discussion of the same;
4. Individual and group studies;
5. Participation in conferences of interest;
6. Tutorial guiding and e-learnings methodologies (http://www.moodle.uevora.pt)
Evaluation:
Two types of evaluation continuous evaluation and assessment by examination:
a. Continuous evaluation: four written bibliographical recensions (50%) and a final essay (50%);
b. Examination: written and oral discussion.
and presentation by the students:
1. Oral presentation of the theoretical syllabus, aided, when possible, by audiovisual means;
2. Summaries of the subjects taught, indicating the specific texts support;
3. Reading, analysis and discussion of selected texts and oral discussion of the same;
4. Individual and group studies;
5. Participation in conferences of interest;
6. Tutorial guiding and e-learnings methodologies (http://www.moodle.uevora.pt)
Evaluation:
Two types of evaluation continuous evaluation and assessment by examination:
a. Continuous evaluation: four written bibliographical recensions (50%) and a final essay (50%);
b. Examination: written and oral discussion.
Teaching Staff (2023/2024 )
- Jorge Alberto Santos Croce Rivera [responsible]
