LV EN RU DE FR

Philosophy

Course developer

Replaced course

Filz1009 [GFIL1009] Practical Philosophy

Course abstract

The aim of the study course is to provide students with in-depth knowledge of the subject of philosophy and critical thinking and argumentation skills, as well as to develop a culture of discussion and dialogue.
Students acquire knowledge of the history of philosophy and contemporary problems of philosophy - focusing on moments of interaction between philosophy and science, philosophy and technology.
In course students are developing skills while analyzing main philosophical problems as well as skills of group work and communication.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

Knowledge - the study course gives enlarged understanding of the main development periods of philosophy; knowledge of the main paradigms, philosophical ideas and concepts. General knowledge of the human, personality, its values and positions in the changing world. Assessment – test.
Skills - the materials and approaches in this study course are helping to achieve skills for seeing problems in their wider contexts; are forming general learning skills; developing critical thinking and ability to make independent and decent judgments. This course is providing students with skills of listening, dialogue formulation and communication. Assessment – personal work in seminars and attendance of lectures.

Competences - the purpose of this course is to enlarge and develop necessary professional, social and reflectional competences; develop competences of understanding and discussing general philosophical problems and themes on which main controversial paradigms in modern society are built. Assessment – independent works, exam.

Course Content(Calendar)

Full time intramural studies:
1. Definition of philosophy, subject of philosophical research. (1 lecture; 1 seminar)
2. Methods of philosophical research. (1 lecture; 1 seminar)
3. The main features and problems of philosophical thinking. (1 lecture)
4. The beginnings of philosophy - existential borderline situations, the mystery of death, surprise. (1 lecture; 2 seminars)
5. The main branches of philosophy. (1 lecture)
6. The main stages of the history of philosophy. (1 lecture)
7. Ontology. (1 lecture)
8. Gnoseology or epistemology. (1 lecture; 1 seminar)
9. Logic. (1 lecture; 1 seminar)
10. Philosophy of religion. (1 lecture; 1 seminar)
11. Ethics. Defining ethics. The subject of ethical research. (2 lectures)
12. Reflection on a person and reflection on a personality. (1 lecture; 4 seminars)
13. Philosophy of science. (1 lecture; 1 seminar)
14. Philosophy of technology (1 lecture; 2 seminars)
15. Aesthetic problems. Different. Philosophy of dialogue. (1 lecture)
16. Presentation of independent work. (2 seminars)
Part time extramural studies:

All topics specified for full time studies are accomplished, but the number of contact hours is one half of the number specified in the calendar

Requirements for awarding credit points

The course envisages the development of two independent works, two group works (analysis of problem situations and discussion), one test, which are performed during practical work in the classroom.

Final assessment of the study course - a test with a mark, which consists of an accumulative assessment of study results.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Within the study course, 48 hours are allocated for independent studies, which are organized as follows: preparation for the test (10 hours), preparation for group work (10 hours); preparation of independent work (28 hours).

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

The final evaluation of the study course is formed by:
30% test on the subject, methods, fields and main problems of philosophy research;
10% 2 group works on the use of critical thinking in the analysis of problem situations;
60% 2 independent works on possible topics:
1. An essay on philosophical ideas in an art or documentary film, such as a wrestling club.
2. Essay on one of the philosophical aspects of Buddhist koans.

3. Essay on a problematic aspect of philosophy of science or technology.

Compulsory reading

1. Agamben G. What Is Philosophy? Stanford, California: Stanford University Press. 2017. / e-book, EBSCO data base, 2017
2. Apsīte L. Rietumeiropas filozofija 14.-18.gs. - R.: Zvaigzne ABC, 2000. - 267 lpp.
3. Kenny A. A New History of Western Philosophy. Oxford University Press, 2010., pg. 1058.
4. Kūle M. Kūlis R. Filosofija. - R., 1998. - 656 lpp.
5. Praktiskā filosofija. - Jelgava, LLU, 2008 – 549 lpp.
6. Russell, Bertrand, The Problems of Philosophy. /e-book, Project Gutenberg, 2004.

7. Šuvajevs I. Filosofija kā dzīvesmāksla, Zvaigzne ABC, 2007. 152 lpp. /tiešsaistē LNB

Further reading

1. Airaksinens T. Filosofijas pamati vidusskolai. Rīga, Zvaigzne ABC 2001. -136 lpp.
2. Brāzma G., Leikuma I., Leikums L., Lūsis K., Moskvins G., (2011) G. Zinātnes filozofija. Jelgava: LLU. 174 lpp.
3. Kaplan D. M. Philosophy, Technology, and the Environment. Cambridge, Massachusetts : The MIT Press. 2017 / e-book, EBSCO data base, 2017
4. Kyrre J., Olsen B., Selinger E. Philosophy of Technology: 5 Questions. New York: 2006., - 270 p

5. Platons. Menons. Dzīres. Rīga: Zvaigzne, 1980. / tiešsaistē LNB

Periodicals and other sources

1. Kentaurs XXI. Mēnešraksts, ISSN 1019-5351.
2. Rīgas Laiks. Mēnešraksts, ISSN 1407-1622.
3. Satori: https://www.satori.lv/

4. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science Part A. / Elsevier 0039-3681

Notes

Compulsory study course for TF professional bachelor study program “Applied Energy Engineering” in full-time and part-time studies.