Contemporary Philosophy Seminar
Code: 100297 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | OT | 3 |
| Philosophy | OT | 4 |
Contact
- Name:
- Jesus Hernandez Reynes
- Email:
- jesus.hernandez@uab.cat
Teaching groups languages
You can view this information at the end of this document.
Prerequisites
No specific requirements.
Objectives and Contextualisation
FOUCAULT: THE COURAGE OF TRUTH
In this 2025-2026 academic year, the Seminar on Contemporary Philosophy aims to study Foucault's reading of the philosophy of ancient Cynics. The reference text will be the last course taught by Michel Foucault at the Collège de France, which is entitled Le Gouvernement de soi et des autres II: Le Courage de la vérité. Inserted in the long-running study of parrhesia (παρρησία), Foucault analyzes the cynical life as an example of a radical philosophical lifestyle where the relationship between truth and subjectivity acquires a revealing clarity.
Competences
- Philosophy
- Analysing and summarising the main arguments of fundamental texts of philosophy in its various disciplines.
- Recognising and interpreting topics and problems of philosophy in its various disciplines.
- Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
- Students must develop the necessary learning skills to undertake further training with a high degree of autonomy.
- Thinking in a critical and independent manner on the basis of the specific topics, debates and problems of philosophy, both historically and conceptually.
Learning Outcomes
- Autonomously searching, selecting and processing information both from structured sources (databases, bibliographies, specialized magazines) and from across the network.
- Carrying out oral presentations using an appropriate academic vocabulary and style.
- Demonstrating a personal stance over a problem or controversy of philosophical nature, or a work of philosophical research.
- Distinguishing and analysing representative texts of the main genres of the philosophical literature.
- Documenting a philosophical issue and contrasting its sources.
- Organizing their own time and work resources: designing plans with priorities of objectives, calendars and action commitments.
- Recognise and define the common thinking present in a multidisciplinary context.
- Recognising and implementing the following teamwork skills: commitment to teamwork, habit of cooperation, ability to participate in the problem solving processes.
- Relating elements and factors involved in the development of scientific processes.
- Submitting works in accordance with both individual and small group demands and personal styles.
- Summarising the topics and arguments exposed in a classical philosophical debate.
- Using suitable terminology when drawing up an academic text.
Content
FOUCAULT: THE COURAGE OF TRUTH
Topics:
- Parrhesia in ancient philosophy.
- The relationship between subjectivity and truth.
- Ancient cynicism.
- Early Christianity.
Activities and Methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Lectures | 36 | 1.44 | 4, 5, 9, 11 |
| Seminar sessions | 10 | 0.4 | 1, 4, 5, 8, 9 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Class presentation | 10 | 0.4 | 3, 7, 8, 9 |
| Tutoring | 10 | 0.4 | 1, 4, 2, 12, 6, 8, 9 |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Preparation of seminar sessiosn and class presentations | 50 | 2 | 6, 9 |
| Text readings | 27.5 | 1.1 | 1, 4, 5, 2, 12, 6, 10, 8, 9, 11 |
The classes are based on the reading and commentary of the reference text. The sessions will alternate master classes, student presentations and discussion of texts and problems.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Assessment
Continous Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Written Test | 40% | 2.5 | 0.1 | 1, 4, 12, 6, 10, 9, 11 |
| Presentation | 20% | 1.5 | 0.06 | 1, 3, 5, 2, 12, 6, 10, 7, 8, 9, 11 |
| Second Written Test | 40% | 2.5 | 0.1 | 4, 5, 12, 9, 11 |
This subject does not contemplate the single evaluation system.
The evaluation will be made on two exams, with a value of 40% each, and on class participation and attendance, with a value of 20%. On the date established by the Dean's Office, a recovery of the exams will be made through a final exam, with a weighted value of 80%. The participation is not recoverable.
It is possible that the Department of Philosophy will establish (as will be done during the first semester) a period dedicated to evaluative tests. The teaching staff will indicate whether such a period exists or what the test dates are at the beginning of each course.
The evaluation of all activities will be reviewed individually in the professor's office, on the date that will be announced in due course through the Virtual Campus.
To take the retake, it is necessary to have taken at least one exam and to have attended the seminar sessions. The final grade is the weighted average of all the activities evaluated.
A student who does not present a minimum of evaluation activities that represent 2/3 of the relative weight is considered non-assessable.
This subject entirely prohibits the use of AI technologies in all of its activities. Any submitted work that contains content generated using AI will be considered academic dishonesty; the corresponding grade will be awarded a zero, without the possibility of reassessment. In cases of greater infringement, more serious action may be taken
In the event that the student makes any irregularity that may lead to a significant variation in the grade of an evaluation act, this evaluation act will be graded with 0, regardless of the disciplinary process that may be instructed. In the event that there are several irregularities in the assessment of the same subject, the final grade for this subject will be 0.
Bibliography
A. Primary Source
Foucault, Michel. 2009. Le Gouvernement de soi et des autres II : Le Courage de la vérité (1984), París: Gallimard.
B. Translation
Foucault, Michel. 2014. El coraje de la verdad. El gobierno de sí y de los otros, II. Curso en el Collège de France (1983-1984). Madrid: Ediciones Akal.
C. Studies
de Freitas, Juan Horacio. 2022. “De la armonía socrática a la homofonía diogénica. Sobre el surgimiento del cinismo en El coraje de la verdad de Michel Foucault”. Tópicos, Revista De Filosofía, no. 64 (August): 191-223. https://doi.org/10.21555/top.v640.2005.
de Freitas, Juan Horacio. 2024. “Michel Foucault y el «cinismo cristiano». Un proyecto en ciernes”. Isegoría, 70: 1419. https://doi.org/10.3989/isegoria.2024.70.1419
Gili Gal, Edgar. 2025. «Decir y escuchar la verdad: Michel Foucault y la parrhesía magistral en la filosofía antigua». Claridades. Revista De Filosofía, octubre; 11-36. https://revistas.uma.es/index.php/claridades/article/view/17337.
Gros, Frédéric (coord.). 2014. Foucault. El coraje de la verdad. Madrid: Arena libros.
Gros, Frédéric i Carlos Lévy (dir.). 2004. Foucault y la filosofía antigua. Buenos Aires : Nueva Visión.
Higuera, Francisco Javier de la. 2020. « Militantismo filosófico y espiritualidad políticaen Foucault ». Pensamiento. Revista de investigación e información filosófica, 76 (290 Extra) : 597-618. https://doi.org/10.14422/pen.v76.i290.y2020.009
Martín Martínez, Miguel Ángel. 2021. “La vida como escándalo de la verdad. Foucault y los cínicos”. Eidos, (35): 321-348. https://doi.org/10.14482/eidos.35.194
Pérez-Gil, Rodrigo. 2016. «Modos de vida cínicos y la metafísica occidental según Foucault». Revista colombiana de pensamiento estético e historia del arte, n.º 4 (julio):81-112. https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/estetica/article/view/91749
Software
No.
Groups and Languages
Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.
| Name | Group | Language | Semester | Turn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (SEM) Seminars | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |