Aesthetics and the Arts

Code:

MFIL043

Acronym:

EA

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Philosophy

Instance: 2025/2026 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Philosophy
Course/CS Responsible:	Masters in Philosophy

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MFIL	19	study plan	1	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

This course offers an in-depth study of the “faculty of imagination”, the aesthetic faculty par excellence, based on the analysis of the positions developed by Kant and Sartre. Throughout this course, we will focus on the relationship between Philosophy, Aesthetics and the Arts, placing the study of a faculty of subjectivity at the center of our interest and fostering the development of affinities involving the concepts of ‘image’, ‘idea’, ‘creation’, ‘negation’ and ‘freedom’.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of this course, students will be able to i) show an in-depth knowledge of the aesthetic concepts and arguments studied, as well as of the philosophical and aesthetic works included in the mandatory bibliography; ii) develop, autonomously and critically, connections involving philosophical theories and contemporary artistic objects.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Kant and the imagination as an aesthetic faculty.
1.1 From the "Transcendental Aesthetics" to the "Critique of the Faculty of Judgement".
1.2 Imagination, Sensibility and Understanding.
1.3 The free play of the faculties: the freedom of the imagination.
1.4 Imagination as an artistic faculty - the aesthetic ideas.

2. Sartre and the imaginary.
2.1. The complex question of intentionality: perception vs. imagination.
2.2 Imagining consciousness.
2.3 Image, negation, and unreality.
2.4 The Sartre vs. Merleau-Ponty opposition: consciousness and imagination vs. body and world.

Mandatory literature

Kant, Immanuel ; Crítica da Faculdade do Juízo, Imprensa Nacional – Casa da Moeda, 1998
Kant, Immanuel; Crítica da Razão Pura, Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, 1985
Sartre, Jean-Paul; L’imaginaire, Gallimard - Folio Essais, 1986
Sartre, Jean-Paul; O Ser e o Nada, Edições 70, 2023

Teaching methods and learning activities

Analysis and critical discussion (with the students) of parts of the mandatory literature, as well as of relevant aesthetic and artistic materials. There is the possibility of inviting guest lecturers to address some specific topics.

 

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	10,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	5,00
Trabalho escrito	85,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	66,00
Frequência das aulas	41,00
Trabalho escrito	55,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

According to FLUP's evaluation standards.

Calculation formula of final grade

Paper 85% + Participation in classes 10% + Presentation/discussion of the paper 5%

Classification improvement

Submission of a new paper.