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Philosophy

Course developer

Course abstract

The course develops students’ understanding of philosophy, its problems, methods, and its role of in contemporary society. The course focuses on the issues of ethics, political philosophy, and on philosophy’s interdisciplinary role. The course develops analytical and critical thinking, skills in recognizing and solving the problems of practical ethics. In addition to lectures the course includes studies of philosophical texts, discussions in seminars and presentations of

Learning outcomes and their assessment

1. Knowledge: a student knows and understands philosophical terminology, conceptions and argumentation in their historical development – seminars’ discussions, final written test.
2. Professional skills: a student is able to evaluate and compare philosophical ideas and arguments, to formulate topical philosophical and multidisciplinary problems, to select and critically assess information related to philosophical topics – seminars’ discussions, student’s paper and its presentation.
Soft skills: a student is able to plan tasks responsibly, to analyse information, to participate in group activities – seminars’ discussion, student’s paper and its presentation.
3. Competence: a student is able to perceive and solve responsibly ethical and multidisciplinary problems, to integrate these skills in further professional activity – seminars’ discussion, student’s paper and its presentation.

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Philosophy, its role in development of science. Theoretical and practical philosophy.
2. Ancient philosophy, its significance in further development of philosophy and science.
3. Development of virtue ethics in ancient philosophy and its significance nowadays.
4. Values, their classification.
5. Basic principles of ethics and theories of normative ethics (2h).
6. Environmental ethics.
7. Bioethics (2h).
8. Moral relativism and its critique.
9. An introduction to political philosophy (2h).
10. Philosophy of religion in the Middle Ages. Religion and ethics (2h).
11. An introduction to modern and contemporary philosophy (2h).

Requirements for awarding credit points

Scientific literature chosen by a lecturer must be studied and discussed during seminars. Student’s paper must be elaborated and presented. Final test in the end of the course.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

1. The studies of scientific literature chosen by a lecturer for preparation of seminars’ topics.
2. A student’s paper and its presentation.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

Test with a grade. Accumulating assessment of study results: participation in seminars’ discussions (30%), final written test (40%), student’s paper and its presentation (30%).

Compulsory reading

1. Praktiskā filosofija. LLU. Sociālo zinātņu fakultāte. Filosofijas katedra; zin. kon. A. Strods. Jelgava: LLU, 2008. 549 lpp.
2. Kūle M., Kūlis R. Filosofija. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC, 1998. 656 lpp.
3. Stumpf S., Fieser J. Philosophy: a Historical Survey with Essential Readings. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education, 2019. 426 p.

Further reading

1. Brāzma G. Bioētika. Jelgava: LLU, 2010. 128 lpp.
2. Ponomarjovs A. Grāmatvežu un revidentu profesionālā ētika. Rīga: LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2008. 86 lpp.
3. Blekbērns S. Domā! Neatvairāms ievads filozofijā. Rīga: ¼ Satori, 2007. 304 lpp.

Periodicals and other sources

1. Žurnāls Rīgas Laiks. ISSN 1407-1622.
2. Žurnāls Philosophy now: a magazine of ideas. ISSN 0961-5970. Pieejams: https://philosophynow.org/issues
3. Online encyclopedia Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Pieejams: http://plato.stanford.edu/