Duration
Seminar on ontology : 45h SEM
Controversial issues in metaphysics : 30h Th
Number of credits
| Master in philosophy (120 ECTS) | 15 crédits |
Lecturer
Seminar on ontology : Laurence Bouquiaux, Olivier Dubouclez, Julien Pieron
Controversial issues in metaphysics : Olivier Dubouclez
Coordinator
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the second semester
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
Seminar on ontology
Research seminar on an ontological topic. Theme of this year : "Ontology of Futures".
Controversial issues in metaphysics
The problem of stupidity (bêtise)
This course would like to focus on the notion of stupidity in order to describe it as a phenomenon and to understand how it constitutes a genuine philosophical problem. We will first try to determine what kind of act or speech is stupidity, and if it is totally foreign to knowledge and intelligence. Stupidity seems to embody a certain negativity from the point of view of reason: how does it modify and disturb rational discourse? How does it arise and who, ultimately, is legitimate in attributing stupidity?
We will also try to retrace its history, to understand its emergence, alongside other mental categories which fall within the field of dementia and madness. We will also see how philosophers have gradually made room for it. Stupidity will then become a category of its own in 19th century thought.
To fulfil this program, we will focus on Derrida and Musil (for the characterization of stupidity) and then Foucault, Kant and possibly Schopenhauer (for the historical genesis of the concept). Other references will be proposed and used throughout the quadrimester.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
Seminar on ontology
Defining a philosophical question through its historical development between science and metaphysics.
Controversial issues in metaphysics
At the end of this course, students will be able to analyze and define the concept of stupidity from a particular aspect or in a particular philosophical or literary work.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Seminar on ontology
Bachelor's degree knowledge in history of philosophy.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Seminar on ontology
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
On friday afternoon (from 2pm to 5pm): October 1st, 15th and 29th; November 12th and 26th; December 10th.
Location : Espace philo
Controversial issues in metaphysics
Face-to-face course
Additional information:
Face-to-face. Thursday 13:00-15:00
Recommended or required readings
Controversial issues in metaphysics
Indicative bibliography (will be completed during the course):
Jacques Derrida, La Bête et le Souverain I, Paris, Galilée, 2001.
Michel Foucault, Histoire de la folie, Paris, Gallimard, 1972.
Emmanuel Kant, Critique de la raison pure, trad. fr. A. Renaut, Paris, GF, 2006.
- Anthropologie d'un point de vue pragmatique, trad. fr. M. Foucault, Paris, Vrin, 1994.
Robert Musil, L'homme sans qualités, vol. I, trad. fr. P. Jaccottet, Paris, Seuil, 2004.
- De la bêtise, trad. fr. M. Dumont et A. Lochmann, Paris, Allia, 2019.
Arthur Schopenhauer, Le Monde comme volonté et comme représentation, tome I, trad. fr. M. Dautrey, C. Sommer et V. Stanek, Paris, Folio, essais, 2009 (ou trad. fr. A. Burdeau, Paris, PUF, 1998).
Assessment methods and criteria
Seminar on ontology
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
written exam
Written work / report
Additional information:
The final exam will rest on a written essay.
This (40 to 50 thousands signs long) essay should deal with some topic strongly related to the theme of the seminar and it must take into consideration what has been said at the seminar.
The essay must use secondary sources and question the authors it is dealing with.
Students are advised to discuss the topic of their essay with the teachers as soon as possible.
Controversial issues in metaphysics
Exam(s) in session
Any session
- In-person
oral exam
Additional information:
A 20-30 min presentation on a book (or a part of a book) dedicated to stupidity, in agreement with the teacher. A list of works will be provided at the beginning of the course.
Work placement(s)
Organizational remarks
Contacts
Seminar on ontology
Laurence.Bouquiaux@uliege.be
Olivier.Dubouclez@uliege.be
Julien.Pieron@uliege.be
Université de Liège
Département de philosophie
Place du XX août, 7
4000 LIEGE
Controversial issues in metaphysics
Olivier Dubouclez
Department of philosophy
History of Modern Philosophy
Place du 20-Août, 7
B-4000 Liège
email: Olivier.Dubouclez@uliege.be