Universität Wien

180166 KU Central Topics in Theoretical Philosophy (2025S)

10.00 ECTS (4.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Continuous assessment of course work

Hinweis der SPL Philosophie:

Das Abgeben von ganz oder teilweise von einem KI-tool (z.B. ChatGPT) verfassten Texten als Leistungsnachweis (z.B. Seminararbeit) ist nur dann erlaubt, wenn dies von der Lehrveranstaltungsleitung ausdrücklich als mögliche Arbeitsweise genehmigt wurde. Auch hierbei müssen direkt oder indirekt zitierte Textstellen wie immer klar mit Quellenangabe ausgewiesen werden.

Die Lehrveranstaltungsleitung kann zur Überprüfung der Autorenschaft einer abgegebenen schriftlichen Arbeit ein notenrelevantes Gespräch (Plausibilitätsprüfung) vorsehen, das erfolgreich zu absolvieren ist.
Moodle
Th 26.06. 09:45-13:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 30 participants
Language: German

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

This course is held in consecutive 2 -units each week.

(1) 9:45 – 11: 15
|| BREAK ||
(2) 11:30 – 13:00

  • Thursday 13.03. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 20.03. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 27.03. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 03.04. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 10.04. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 08.05. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 15.05. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3D, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. III/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 22.05. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 05.06. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien
  • Thursday 12.06. 09:45 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3C, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/3. Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The course Core Topics in Theoretical Philosophy presents and discusses central questions and problems of contemporary theoretical philosophy in five sections (each lasting 2 weeks). In particular, we will deal in detail with current research questions on the following core topics:

(1) Philosophy of Mind: The Mystery of Consciousness - How do consciousness, soul and psyche think today? Philosophy at the interface with cognitive and neuroscience

(2) Animal Mind - Cognition and Animals: Can animals think/'speak'? What is the difference between human language and animal communication? - On the relationship between thinking and speaking

(3) Philosophy of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence: Computers and (intelligent) machines:

(4) Philosophy of Nature: Biology, Environment and Life: What are the theoretical foundations of the new environmental philosophy (Environmental Philosophy)?

(5) Metaphilosophy - Philosophy in the current context: What tasks and roles does (theoretical) philosophy have in the circle of science and culture? What is the relationship between theory and practice?

The discussion of the topics includes the presentation, reading and discussion of selected texts.
The topics and texts for the individual sections (1-5) are presented in the first session; the texts are available in Moodle.
The weekly appointments each consist of 2 blocked units. In the first unit, mainly thematic input; lectures by the teachers, presentations. In the second unit, mainly joint reflection and discussion; joint research work in small groups.
The language of instruction and discussion is German. Students with sufficient passive knowledge of German can also take part in the discussion in English and submit written work in English.

Assessment and permitted materials

The assessment is based on the following partial achievements:
- 2 essays on texts discussed in the units, which are presented in short oral presentations and serve as a basis for discussion.
- 2 written papers/excerpts on the texts (5-7 pages each) in which a central question or a central concept or argument is selected and discussed.
- 1 meeting protocol that succinctly summarizes the unit (presentation on the topic, presentations and discussion).
- Oral participation, participation in discussions, prepare arguments
- Final paper and Feedback Talk in Office hour

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Basis for assessment: Sufficient attendance.

Submission of all partial achievements. Positive assessment from 60%
Grading key:

1: 90 - 100 points
2: 80 - 90 points
3: 70-80 points
4: 60-70 points
5: 0 - 69 points

Examination topics

The decisive factor for the grades Very Good (1) or Good (2) is to go beyond the mere reproduction of the content and texts and to develop and communicate approaches to an independent view of the topics and problems.

Performances that are limited to a reproduction of the underlying material and texts are given a grade between "satisfactory" and "sufficient". In the case of inadequate reproduction and/or understanding of the topics and content of the course, in connection with absences, the award of the grade "unsatisfactory" requires the award of the grade "insufficient".

ATTENTION: Deregistration from the course after the 4th absence. Compensatory performances can be made WITHIN 3 absences.

Reading list

TOPIC 1:
Bennett / Hacker: The philosophical foundations of neuroscience. WBG, 2010.
Bieri, Peter: What makes consciousness a mystery? Spektrum, Heidelberg 1994, pp. 172–180.
Metzinger, Thomas (ed.): Consciousness. Contributions from contemporary philosophy. Mentis, Paderborn 2005.
Noë, Alva: You are not your brain. A radical philosophy of consciousness. Piper Verlag, Munich 2010
Gloy, Karen: Collective and individual consciousness. Munich 2009.

TOPIC 2:
Markus Wild: The spirit of animals. Philosophical texts on a current discussion. Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt am Main 2005
Köchy K., Wunsch M., Böhnert M. (ed.): Philosophy of animal research. Volume 2: Maxims and consequences. Munich 2016.

TOPIC 3:
Klaus Mainzer: Philosophical Handbook of Artificial Intelligence, Springer 2024
Kurzweil, Ray: The Singularity is Near, New York 2005
McCarthy, J., and Hayes, P. J.: Some philosophical problems from the standpoint of artificial intelligence. Palo Alto 1969
McCarthy, J. 1977. "Epistemological problems of artificial intelligence". In IJCAI, 1038–1044.

TOPIC 4:
Töpfer G., Krohs U.. Philosophy of Biology, An Introduction, 2005.
Angelika Krebs (ed.): Nature Ethics. Basic Texts of the Current Animal and Eco-Ethical Discussion. Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt am Main 1997
Brigitte Falkenburg: Nature. In: Thomas Kirchhoff, Nicole C. Karafyllis et al. (Ed.): Natural philosophy. Tübingen 2017

TOPIC 5:
Nicholas Rescher: Studies in Metaphilosophy. Ontos, Heusenstamm 2006.
Chalmers, David (ed.): Metametaphysics. New essays on the foundations of ontology. Oxford University Press, 2009.
Overgaard, Søren, Stephen Burwood (eds.): An Introduction to Metaphilosophy. Cambridge 2013.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Fr 18.04.2025 11:26