Minor Philosophy of Contemporary Challenges (88M45)

Who is this minor interesting for?

This minor is intended for all bachelor students with an engagement in key challenges that contemporary societies are facing today, such as climate change, migration, populism, racism and economic inequality. Note: because this minor is also a premaster, teaching philosophical skills (reading and writing) is a central part of this minor. In the master PCC, the actual content is covered.   

General information

Courses

Political Philosophy (P&S 1) (Semester 1, 700033-B-6)

The aim of this course is to provide an introduction to key issues in political philosophy through a study of some of its most influential and important figures. The course will revolve around four main topics: 1) rulers and forms of government; 2) Men, states of nature, and social contracts; 3) Peace; 4) State, Market, and Civil Society. In addressing these issues, the course will introduce students to several prominent thinkers including Plato, Hobbes, Locke, Spinoza, Rousseau, Hegel, Karl Marx, and others. Students will engage with influential primary readings from each central author, together with selected secondary texts. Moreover, they will conduct a group activity devoted at the analysis  of political philosophers 'beyond the canon', i.e., usually not included in the courses of political philosophy. 

Philosophy of Public Governance (Semester 2, 700373-B-6)

One part of the course will look at how epistemic considerations can inform our understanding and assessment of political practices and institutions. Our point of departure is the conventional view that democracy is the most ethically defensible form of government. We will first challenge this proposal on epistemic grounds and examine some alternative models of public governance. We then turn to defences of democracy which emphasise their purported epistemic benefits. Lastly, we look at how these epistemic defences of democracy help sharpen our understanding of why democracy is currently under threat. The other part of the course will deal with philosophical thoeires of bureaucracy and public administration.

History of Modern Philosophy (Semester 1, 700376-B-6 or Semester 2, 700292-B-6)

The course surveys the rise of modern philosophy, from the sixteenth century to the beginning of the nineteenth century, and some major philosophical themes as discussed in this period. Themes include epistemological ones (knowledge, science), ontological ones (metaphysics, mind and soul), practical ones (ethics, social philosophy), and theological ones (God). Key thinkers considered will be René Descartes, Benedict Spinoza, David Hume, George Berkeley, John Locke, Immanuel Kant, Sophie de Grouchy, Georg Hegel, Arthur Schopenhauer, Karl Marx, Wilhelm Dilthey and Friedrich Nietzsche. The main aim of the course is to introduce students to a formative period of philosophy and modern critical thinking, to the ideas of major thinkers from that period, and thereby to important philosophical discussions, concepts, and arguments.

Contemporary Philosophy for PM (Semester 1, 700358-B-6 or Semester 2, 700377-B-6)

In the course, we introduce and examine significant themes and philosophical methodologies that are central to an understanding of and grounding in contemporary philosophy. In doing so, we aim to equip students with a broad spectrum of philosophical knowledge and critical skills that will enable them to undertake a Master’s degree in philosophy. Moreover, we will invite them to engage in critical self-reflection about their own understanding of philosophy and their self-conception as (future) philosophers. This course will cover contemporary topics in some central theoretical and practical philosophical sub-disciplines, such as philosophy of mind, epistemology, ethics, political philosophy, aesthetics, and the philosophy of philosophy.

Thinking about Science (OTH) (Semester 1, 800167-B-6)

In this course students will learn to think critically about what science is based on theories and concepts of philosophy of science, to understand what makes cultural studies scientific, to reflect upon philosophical and scientific theories and concepts, and to assess the role of science in society and (digital) culture. Students will thereby not only improve their understanding of the nature of science and of their own discipline as a scientific study. They will also learn to take a critical stance and develop the intellectual skills necessary for adequately dealing with the mass of information that we are flooded with these days.

Society, Science and Information (W&K 3) (Semester 2, 700325-B-6)

This course discusses fundamental issues about truth, (social) epistemology and communication on the basis of recent work on the social (non-epistemic) role of belief and belief systems. The course applies these issues to epistemic issues created by social media. The philosophical background needed to discuss these issues requires insights from epistemology, philosophy of language and communication and argumentation theory, combined with empirical research on belief formation, our human psychology and communication. The approach is interdisciplinary and multi-faceted.

Philosophical Skills for PM (Semester 1, 800168-B-6 or Semester 2, 800899-B-6)

In the course we introduce students to the argumentation and writing skills that are central to the study of academic philosophy. In doing so, we aim to equip students with a variety of philosophical skills that will enable them to undertake a Master’s degree in philosophy. The course consists of two parts. In the first part we focus on examining and applying argumentation skills. This involves learning how to recognize arguments as part of a philosophical text, reconstructing arguments accurately, and formally evaluating arguments using the tools of informal logic. In the second part of the course, we focus on examining and applying philosophical writing skills. Building on the formal evaluation skills learnt in Part One, students will practice the philosophical evaluation of a larger piece of philosophical writing, as well as the construction and justification of their own philosophical positions. At the end of the course, we consolidate these skills in the culmination of an independent piece of philosophical writing.

After the minor 

The minor is a premaster in philosophy and provides a general background required for the corresponding Master's track Philosophy of Contemporary Challenges (PCC). Teaching philosophical skills (reading and writing) is a central part of this minor. In itself it is not already applicable in the professional field.

More information

Detailed and up-to-date information about this minor in the academic year 2024-2025 can be found in the Osiris Catalogue from 1 August. 

If you have any questions about this minor, please contact: Cathy de Waele.