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What Is Knowledge?

Code 15558
Year 1
Semester S2
ECTS Credits 6
Workload OT(15H)/TP(45H)
Scientific area Philosophy
Entry requirements -
Learning outcomes The question "What is knowledge?" does not have to claim an immediate answer; quite the contrary, it invites one to assume from the outset the inquiring bid in which the question is played. In this sense, this course aims to stimulate the practice of philosophical questioning, through a fundamental theme of philosophy. At the end of the UC, the student should be able to: (i) identify gnoseological and epistemological issues; (ii) make explicit the fundamental elements of the perspectives studied; (iii) discuss answers to the question "What is knowledge?"; (iv) problematize the nature of knowledge.
Syllabus 1. Perplexity, Inquiry and Knowledge
2. How is knowledge possible? Plato and the question of reminiscence
3. The problem of knowledge
4. Impressions, ideas and the principle of association
5. The operationality of Transcendental Aesthetics in the construction of objective knowledge: tensions and syntheses
6. Knowledge as regulatory fiction. Critique of veracity and perspectivism in Friedrich Nietzsche
7. Absolute Knowledge in Hegel and German Idealism
8. The meaning of scientific knowledge
9. Two types of knowledge
10. Truth, politics and justice
11. Is science close to its limits?
Main Bibliography Arendt, H. (2006), “Verdade e política” in Entre o passado e o futuro ), Lisboa: Relógio D'Água
Heidegger, M. (1953), “Ciência e pensamento do sentido” in Ensaios e conferências, Petrópolis: Vozes, Bragança Paulista: Editora Universitária São Francisco, 2012
Hegel, G. W. F., "Prefácio do Sistema da Ciência", in Prefácios, trad. Manuel J. Carmo Ferreira, Lisboa, Imprensa Nacional - Casa da Moeda, 1990
Hume, D. [1748], Investigação sobre o Entendimento Humano, trad. Artur Morão, Lisboa: Ed. 70, 1985
Kant, I. (1994), Crítica da Razão Pura, Lisboa: Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian
Nietzsche, F. [1873], “Introdução teorética sobre a verdade e a mentira no sentido extra-moral” in O Livro do Filósofo, Porto: Rés Editora, s/d.
Platão, Meno and other dialogues, trans., introdution and notes Robin Waterfield, Oxford University Press, 2005
Platão, Teeteto, trad. Adriana Manuela Nogueira e Marcelo Boeri, Lisboa: FCG, 2015
and more
Teaching Methodologies and Assessment Criteria Methodologically, the curricular unit is taught using a plural approach to the basic philosophical question - What is Knowledge?, for which each professor introduces a perspective based on a bibliographic reference.
Each module presupposes prior reading of the respective bibliographic reference, and the weekly OT hour is allocated to this.
The assessment consists of a written test, with an open response to the Curricular Unit question (60%), and an oral test on the compulsory reading texts (40%). Participation is a weighting factor in the final grade.
Language Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.
Last updated on: 2025-04-02

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