Philosophy

In this course, anthropology is approached from a philosophical point of view and with philosophical methods. The course consists of three units. The following main topics are addressed: key concepts for the epistemology of anthropology, philosophical accounts of human nature from antiquity to modern age, and evolutionism and anthropology.

This course introduces the concepts, principles, theories, and history of Marxist Philosophy. Topics include the historical origin of the birth of Marxist Philosophy; the ideological revolution accomplished by Marxist Philosophy; the basic concepts of Marxist Philosophy; the problem areas and basic theories of Marxist Philosophy; the theory of Marxist philosophy; and the contemporary significance of Marxist philosophy.

This course, based on lectures, requires students to read important discussion papers about the nature of Marxist Philosophy and its place in the history of idea. It guides students in the ideological debate in a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the revolutionary nature of Marxist philosophy and the truth of the times.

This course introduces students to several foundational traditions of thought in Greek and Roman philosophy. Authors or movements covered may include the pre-Socratics, Plato, Aristotle, Stoicism, and Epicureanism. Among its themes is the nature of reality, its relation to human thought and language, the purpose of life, and the way to happiness.

Since the Scientific Revolution of the early 17th century, France has been the site of many of the most important scientific innovations of the modern age. More than this, science has played a crucial role in the construction of French national identity. From the 1635 foundation of the Jardin des Plantes by Louis XIII as a center of botanical and medical research, to the construction of the Eiffel Tower as a monument to the scientific accomplishments and to the engineering might of France, discoveries, innovations, and scientific feats have long been at the heart of France’s understanding of its own place in the world. In this course, students investigate the history of science in modern France, with a particular focus on the figures and institutions that contributed to this history within the walls of Paris. The course develops a critical approach to these figures, borrowing methods and insights from the scholarly discipline known as “history and philosophy of science”, or “HPS”.