Introduction to Contemporary Philosophy 2500-EN-PS-OB1Z-3

Contemporary philosophy is a complex and broad field that embraces problems and ideas closely connected to all branches of science. In fact, several fields of science, psychology included, separated from philosophy rather recently (that is, in the second half of the XIX century) and they remain – in many cases – still closely related to philosophical theories and considerations. The course has two main aims. The first is to sketch a partial landscape of contemporary philosophy – both historical and conceptual. This will enable students to gain basic knowledge of important philosophical ideas and concepts that should be a part of a conceptual framework of every person that attempts at gaining a university degree. The second is to introduce concepts, theories and ideas that are or might be of some importance to contemporary psychology. The course, therefore, shall comprise, among other thing, the discussion of concepts of intentionality and consciousness, the discussion over the so-called psychologism and reasons why it has been rejected by the founding fathers of contemporary philosophy (Frege, Husserl), the discussions over the concept of folk psychology and theories of mindbody problem, the idea of modularity. This shall be supplemented by elementary introduction to some ideas belonging properly to philosophy of science, philosophy of language and even contemporary metaphysics (the popular concept of “possible world” shall be explained during the course).