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Topics of Ethics

Topics of Ethics

Code	5956
Year	3
Semester	S2
ECTS Credits	6
Workload	OT(15H)/TP(45H)
Scientific area	Philosophy
Mode of delivery	Face to face
Work placements	Not applicable.
Learning outcomes	The purpose of this curricular unit is to provide a confrontation between the traditional philosophical approach of some of the ethical topics and the results of the latest scientific investigations regarding those same topics. At the end of the unit students should be able to (i) outline the main differences between the naturalistic and anti-naturalistic points of view; (ii) question traditional issues of the philosophical ethics from the dialogue with the sciences; (iii) evaluate the relevance and contribution of science in matters of ethical and moral nature; (iv) identify specific philosophical approaches to ethics.
Syllabus	1. Ethical naturalism and anti-naturalism 1.1. Types of naturalism 1.2. The natural basis of ethics 1.3. The issue of fundament 2. Neuroethics 2.1. Neurosciences of ethics and the ethics of neurosciences 2.2. Fundamental neuroethics and applied neuroethics 3. The role of emotions in ethics 3.1. Emotions and feelings 3.2. The place and value of emotions 4. The issue of free will 4.1. The problem 4.2. Compatibilism and incompatibilism 4.3. Free will and responsibility
Main Bibliography	BAERTSCHI, Bernard (2009), La neuroéthique. Ce que les neurosciences font à nos conceptions morales, Paris, Éditions La Découverte. DAMÁSIO, António (2003), Ao encontro de Espinosa. As emoções sociais e a neurologia do sentir, Mem-Martins, Publicações Europa-América. POIRIER, Pierre & FAUCHER, Luc (dir.) (2008), Des neurosciences à la philosophie. Neurophilosophie et philosophie des neurosciences, Paris, Éditions Syllepse.
Language	Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.