Topics in Political Philosophy

Code:

MFPE004

Acronym:

TFP

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Philosophy
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MFPE	20	Study plan	1	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

1. To develop theoretical and methodological skills for the understanding of some of the contemporary challenges posed to Politics.
2. To understand critically the relations between society, knowledge, economy and politics, as well as the challenges posed to democracy and its exercise by globalization.
3. To interpret critically some of the fundamental texts of contemporary political thought.
4. To explain, discuss, and apply the acquired knowledge and skills.
5. To deepen research skills which can improve the execution of research work, conducing to the preparation of the final paper.

Learning outcomes and competences

The theoretical exposition of the syllabus themes will be open to student participation, combining a critical approach to the contents with the theoretical debates raised by the syllabus themes, thus promoting the integrated development of the analytical and discursive skills best suited to the autonomous construction of knowledge.
After choosing a theme, work, or author for the preparation of their written paper, students present and submit it for discussion. The research, the preparation of the written essay, and its discussion aim at training the skills mentioned in the Learning Outcomes.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Not applicable.

Program

1. Society, Knowledge, Economy and Politics
1.1. The technological and political regulation of the capitalist model
1.2. Economy of knowledge and common goods
1.3. Technology, democracy, and shared knowledge
2. Globalization, Democracy, and Human Rights
2.1. Migrations and multiculturalism (Habermas)
2.2. Cosmopolitism and community(ies) (Kant; MacIntyre, Taylor, Sandel, Kymlicka, Negri)
2.3. Human Rights: stalemates and challenges (Benhabib)

Mandatory literature

Benhabib, S. ; Another Cosmopolitanism, Oxford University Press, 2006
Benhabib, S.; Dignity in adversity: Human rights in troubled times, Polity Press, 2011
Benkler, Y.; The Wealth of networks, Yale University Press, 2006
Felberg, C.; La economía del bien común, Paidós, 2014
Jurgen Habermas; Europa, cidadania e multiculturalismo. ISBN: 972-8063-27-X
Habermas, J. ; The concept of human dignity and the realistic utopia of human rights, Metaphilosophy, 41.4: 464-480, 2010
Hess, Charlotte – Ostrom, Elinor (eds.); Understanding Knowledge as a Commons, From Theory to Practice, The MIT Press, 2007
Immanuel Kant; Fundamentação da metafísica dos costumes. ISBN: 972-44-0306-8
Ostrom, El. et al ; Revisiting the Commons: Local Lessons, Global Challenges, Science, Vol. 284. no. 5412, pp. 278-282, 1999
Amartya Sen; Ethique et économie. ISBN: 2-13-045925-0
Charles Taylor; Multiculturalismo. ISBN: 972-771-016-6

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theoretical and practical lectures (expositions, discussion and problematization of themes, reading and analysis of texts), deploying the strategies proper to research. Discussions oriented to the reflective analysis of the themes and authors presented or selected by the teaching staff and the students, so as to consolidate the subjects taught. This Unit also involves research work, having in view the preparation, presentation, and discussion of papers.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	25,00
Trabalho escrito	75,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	1,00
Frequência das aulas	41,00
Trabalho de investigação	120,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Not applicable.

Calculation formula of final grade

Participation in discussions: 25 %. Final research paper: 75 %.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Accordingly to the assessment regulations.

Internship work/project

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Accordingly to the assessment regulations.

Classification improvement

Accordingly to the assessment regulations.

Observations

Not applicable.