FF:PHV416 Phil. and Sci-fi: Sel. Chap. - Course Information

PHV416 Philosophy and Science Fiction: Selected Chapters

Extent and Intensity

0/2/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).

Teacher(s)

prof. PhDr. Josef Krob, CSc. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

prof. PhDr. Josef Krob, CSc.
Department of Philosophy – Faculty of Arts
Supplier department: Department of Philosophy – Faculty of Arts

Timetable

Mon 18:00–19:40 D22

Prerequisites (in Czech)

! PH0255 Philosophy in Science Fiction

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

• Philosophy (programme FF, B-HS)
• Philosophy (programme FF, B-PH) (5)
• Philosophy (programme FF, B-PH_) (6)
• Philosophy (programme FF, N-HS)
• Philosophy (programme FF, N-PH) (2)
• Philosophy (programme FF, N-PH_) (3)
• Upper Secondary School Teacher Training in Social Studies Basics (programme FF, N-MA)
• Upper Secondary School Teacher Training in Social Studies Basics (programme FF, N-SS) (4)
• Upper Secondary School Teacher Training in Social Studies Basics (programme FF, N-ZA_) (4)

Course objectives

At the end of the course students will have been introduced to the possibilities and particular cases of the use of thought experiments in literature as well as so selected philosophical problems portrayed in fiction. The goal of the course is to enhance the creative part of critical thinking while respecting the requirements of logical consistency and formal correctness.

Learning outcomes

- formulate a non-traditional query - define solvability conditions - solutions beyond standard thinking formulas - argumentative essay

Syllabus

• The introduction of selected philosophical questions by an interactive way and their reflection using sci-fi literature.

• This will be rather a workshop than a lecture!
  1. The creation of universes, the emergence of the world
• 2. The sign, name and reality
• 3. Evolution, meaning of life
• 4. Social determinism
• 5. Space, time
• 6. Mind, body, solipsism and realism
• 7. Artificial intelligence
• 8. The historical role of a mistake
• 9. The Judgment Day

Literature

• LEM, Stanisław. Golem XIV (Přít.) : Dokonalá prázdnota ; Golem XIV.
• Isaac Asimov: Nadace.
• Isaac Asimov: …že jsi naň pamětliv. Roboti a androidi, Praha, Svoboda 1988, s. 404–426.
• LEM, Stanislaw. Summa technologiae. Praha: Magnet-Press, 1995. 328 s. ISBN 80-85847-47-7.
• Arthur Clark: Zpráva o třetí planetě. Devět miliard božích jmen. Praha, Práce 1982

Teaching methods

Lecture based on assigned reading, discussion and text analysis.

Assessment methods

Essay (5400 characters) based on one seminar topic or one that emerged in the discussions. Students´ task will be to discuss, defend the feasibility and relevance for philosophy. No need to solve the problems :), it is sufficient to present them clearly and show the ability to participate in a well-reasoned discussion based on the knowledge of facts. Topics: 1. Mathematics, physics, logic and their relationship to physical reality. 2. Language and reality. 3. Evolution, chance, meaning 4. Time and space 5. Mind, body, idea and reality 6. Artificial intelligence 7. History, determinism, plan and spontaneity 8. Man, nature and ethics 9. Communication (inter-species, inter-civilization...)

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: kombinovaná forma: 16 hodin/semestr.

Listed among pre-requisites of other courses

• CORE089 Philosophy in sci-fi
  typ_studia(BM) && forma(P) && !(program(B-PH_) || obor(FBPHpV)) && !NOWANY(PHV416) && !PHV416  

• Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2020, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2020/PHV416