Duration
30h Th
Number of credits
| Bachelor in philosophy | 5 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Topic: Subjective Experience - Phenomenology and Analytic Philosophy.
Purpose
The course is designed to provide participants with an understanding of the phenomenological research program (PRP) and its relevance for analytic philosophy of mind. Challenging the so-called divide between phenomenological and analytic traditions, it investigates how a phenomenological approach to the mind is progressively regaining traction within analytic philosophy. Special emphasis is put on the notion of subjective experience. Central to PRP is the claim that classes or types of mental phenomena can be correctly identified and described on the basis of subjective experience alone, that is, on the basis of the firsthand knowledge the subject possesses of her own mental phenomena. This claim tacitly presupposes a certain 'liberal' view of subjective experience (or consciousness), a view which was shared by early phenomenologists and early analytic philosophers alike-or so we shall argue. Yet, in the present-day research context all sorts of doubts stand in the way of this view. The main mandate of the course is to critically discuss those doubts.
Course Overview
The course begins with a disambiguation of PRP by contrasting two conceptions of subjective experience we will call the broad, inclusive (or 'liberal') conception and the narrow conception. It is suggested that the inclusive conception was overarching at the time of PRP's inception. The course goes on with a critical examination of doubts against PRP. We discuss three kinds of global doubts, namely: doubts about the existence and nature of subjective experience (ontological skepticism: is there such a thing as subjective experience?), about the epistemic value of subjective reports (epistemological skepticism: are subjective, introspection-based reports reliable?), and about the connection between intentionality and subjective experience (heuristic skepticism: couldn't a theory of mental states qua intentional states merely dispense with a consideration of subjective experiences?). In the last sessions we address more local doubts concerning some much-disputed cases of subjective experience such as cognitive experiences and/or agentive experiences.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Main purpose: to clarify some important issues of contemporary philosophy. By the end of the course, students are supposed:
- to understand what are the main philosophical options regarding the considered topics
- to see what is at stake in each of those options
- to master some conceptual technicalities
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
This course is aimed at students in Philosophy only. Students should be able to read philosophical texts in English. It is recommended, albeit not mandatory, to have followed the course: History of contemporary philosophy (PHIL0010-1, A. Dewalque).
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Lectures, class discussions, readings.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
The course takes place from September to December. The default teaching mode is the face-to-face mode but some classes might be taught online.
Organisational adjustments related to the current health context
Online classes: see above. To access the virtual classroom (Collaborate), please go on eCampus => course => classe virtuelle => salle de classe.
Assessment criteria: unchanged (forum/class participation + final paper).
Recommended or required readings
See syllabus.
Assessment methods and criteria
Below you will find information on the evaluation methods planned for in-person and remote exams as well as those planned for hybrid sessions. Depending on how the health crisis evolves, the chosen method will be communicated to you no later than one month before the start of the exam session.
Any session :
- In-person
written exam
- Remote
written work
- If evaluation in "hybrid"
preferred remote
Additional information:
Attendance is mandatory. Please note that you can only miss two sessions. If you should miss a third session, a medical certificate will be needed. Should you miss a fourth session your term paper will not be considered and you will not pass the course.
Active participation is expected. It includes:
- Participation during the sessions
- Reading the articles for every session
- Posting entries in the e-Campus Forum (see below)
- Handing in your work on time
- Active participation during the sessions (10%)
- Active participation in the e-Campus Forum (30%)
- Term paper (60 %)
- Entries must be uploaded Wednesdays before every session, 23:59 at the latest.
- Your entries should consist in a question/objection about a specific text passage of the reading assigned for that week.
- Your responses to your fellow students should always respond specifically to the question asked or the objection raised by suggesting varying interpretations/giving concrete counter-arguments.
- The best questions/objections will be discussed in class.
Assessment criteria will be
- the relevance of the question at issue
- the formal quality of the written text, including its clarity
- the inner articulation and consistency of the ideas
- Length: 10 pages/3000 words.
- Please respect the academic standards in terms of style and layout (Times New Roman 12pt, paragraphs with alinea, text justified, Line and Paragraph Spacing: 1.5)
- Deadline: see the schedule of the exam session.
- Please send your paper as PDF to a.dewalque(at)uliege.be.
- IMPORTANT: For every 24 hours of delay you will lose two marks on your paper. Examples: Original grade (11) handed in 1 day late: Final grade (9); Original grade (18) handed in 2 days late: Final grade (14)
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Prof. Arnaud Dewalque Dpt of Philosophy 7, Place du 20-août, Building A1/2d floor B-4000 Liège Phone: 0032(4)366.55.93