(in Polish) Filozofia 2400-ZL1FIL
The classes will be divided into thematic blocks:
I. ANCIENT ETHICS (Plato, Aristotle, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus)
We will consider the following questions, among others:
What principles should guide us in our private and public lives?
How can we argue in favor of our opinions?
What is happiness and can it be achieved by living a moral life?
Does maintaining inner freedom require external freedom?
II. MODERN CONCEPTS OF THE STATE AND LAW (Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau)
We will consider the following questions, among others:
What is the condition of man in a hypothetical state of nature, i.e., before the creation of the state?
Do natural laws exist, and how do they relate to statutory laws?
How is a state created?
Does property ownership contribute positively to harmonious social life?
What powers does the sovereign have, and should legislative, executive, and judicial powers be divided among different state bodies?
Does man as an individual have the right to rebel against state authority?
III. PHILOSOPHY AND ECONOMICS – CRITIQUE OF CAPITALISM (Marx)
We will consider the following questions, among others:
Does private property contribute positively to harmonious social life?
How does the economic system influence social relations?
IV. THE CONCEPT OF UNIVERSAL MORAL PRINCIPLES (Kant, Rawls)
We will consider, among other things, the following questions:
Are there universal moral norms that apply to all people?
How can such norms be derived, and is there an effective procedure for determining their content?
How should the principles of social life be established, in particular the principles of the distribution of social goods?
What principles of justice should be paramount in decisions made in public life?
V. MORAL CONSEQUENTIALISM (Mill, Nielsen)
We will consider, among other things, the following questions:
Should we be guided by principles that lead to the maximization of happiness?
How should we understand the concept of happiness?
VI. VIRTUE ETHICS (MacIntyre)
We will consider, among others, the following questions:
Is ethics autonomous from social, cultural, and economic traditions?
Can the human individual be understood as fully autonomous, or should it always be viewed in a specific social context?
Can the superiority of one tradition (along with the virtues recognized within it) over other traditions be demonstrated?
Szacunkowy nakład pracy studenta: 3ECTS x 25h = 75h
(K) - godziny kontaktowe (S) - godziny pracy samodzielnej
wykład (zajęcia): 0h (K) 0h (S)
ćwiczenia (zajęcia): 28h (K) 0h (S)
egzamin: 0h (K) 0h (S)
konsultacje: 5h (K) 0h (S)
przygotowanie do ćwiczeń: 0h (K) 32h (S)
przygotowanie do wykładów: 0h (K) 0h (S)
przygotowanie do kolokwium: 0h (K) 10h (S)
przygotowanie do egzaminu: 0h (K) 0h (S)
…: 0h (K) 0h (S)
Razem: 33h (K) + 42h (S) = 75h
Type of course
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Students develop a more critical and reflective attitude towards the fundamental ideas underlying the establishment of economic and political order in a country. They recognize the connection between the economic sphere and other spheres of life and understand the relationships between them. They are aware of the role of tradition, including ethical traditions, in decision-making in both private and public life. Students also acquire specific practical skills: they improve their ability to argue rationally in favor of a given position by using the argumentation strategies applied in the texts discussed and drawing on the substantive knowledge acquired during the classes.
Assessment criteria
The grade will be based on a written test at the end of the semester (open-ended questions). Students who are particularly active during classes will have their final grade raised by half a grade compared to their test grade.
Bibliography
Block I:
Plato, “The Apology of Socrates,” in: Dialogues, Warsaw 1993
Supplementary reading: Sophocles, “Antigone”
Plato, “Gorgias”, Kęty: Antyk 1999
Aristotle, “Nicomachean Ethics”, books I and II, PWN 1956
Marcus Aurelius, “Meditations”, Books II-V, PWN 1984
Epictetus, “Encheiridion”, in: Diatribes. Encheiridion, PWN 1961
Block II:
Hobbes T., “Leviathan”, Part I “Of Man”, Chapters 13 and 14; Part II “Of Commonwealth”, Chapters 17, 18, 20 and 21, PWN 1954
Locke J., “Second Treatise of Government”, in: Two Treatises of Government, Warsaw 1992
Rousseau J. J., “Discourse on the Origin and Basis of Inequality Among Men”, in: Three Discourses on Social Philosophy, Warsaw 1956
Block III:
Marx K., “Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844”, chapter “Alienated Labor,” in: Works, Warsaw 1976, vol. I.
Marx K., “Commodity Fetishism”, in: Capital, Warsaw 1951, vol. I.
Block IV:
Kant I., “Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals”, PWN 1984
Rawls J., “A Theory of Justice”, chapters 1 and 2, PWN 1994
Block V:
Mill J. S., “Utilitarianism”, in: Utilitarianism. On Liberty, PWN 1959.
Nielsen K., “Consequentialism versus Moral Absolutism”, in: Ethics without God, Warsaw 1983
Block VI:
MacIntyre A., “After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory”, selected excerpts, PWN 1996
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: