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What Is Action?

What Is Action?

Code	15562
Year	2
Semester	S1
ECTS Credits	6
Workload	OT(15H)/TP(45H)
Scientific area	Philosophy
Entry requirements	Not applicable
Learning outcomes	The question "What is action?" does not have to demand an immediate answer; on the contrary, it invites us 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 issues concerning the philosophy of action; (ii) make explicit the fundamental elements of the studied perspectives; (iii) discuss answers to the question "What is action?"; (iv) problematize the nature of action.
Syllabus	1. Intentionality as a Mark of Action 2. The Moral Value of Action 3. Action and Determinism: The Role of Emotions 4. Acting in Urgent Contexts
Main Bibliography	Anscombe, G. E. M. (1956, January). Intention. In Proceedings of the Aristotelian Society (Vol. 57, pp. 321-332). Aristotelian Society, Wiley. Atlan, Henri (2006), Será a ciência inumana? Ensaio sobre a livre necessidade, Instituto Piaget. Damásio, António (2011), O Erro de Descartes. Temas e Debates. Epicuro 2020, Carta a Heródoto [excertos], in Idem, Cartas & Máximas principais, Penguin/Companhia das Letras. Kant, Immanuel (2004), Fundamentação da Metafísica dos Costumes, Ed.70. Latour, Bruno (2012), Reagregando o Social. Uma introdução a teoria do ator-rede. Trad.: Gilson César Cardoso de Sousa. EDUFMA, EDUSC. Parkin, Nicholas (2014), “Pacifism, Supreme Emergency, and Moral Tragedy” In: Social Theory and Practice, 40, Nº 4 (October 2014), pp. 631-648.
Teaching Methodologies and Assessment Criteria	Methodologically, the curricular unit is taught under a plural approach to the basic philosophical question - What is action? -, for which a previously informed perspective is introduced by each participating teacher, with an indication of the pertinent bibliography. Each module presupposes the previous reading of the respective bibliographical reference, based on which a dynamic debate of the philosophical question is carried out. The assessment consists of active participation and relevant intervention in the work of the weekly sessions and preparation of a written test with oral presentation.
Language	Portuguese. Tutorial support is available in English.