Class Introduction to Contemporary Thought

This Curricular Unit aims to critically reflect on some of the most important themes/problems, and currents of contemporary thought, inserted in their historical contexts. The interdisciplinary nature of knowledge provides theoretical tools for a better understanding of contemporaneity.

Reflection on the nature of contemporaneity, understood as a result of a civilizational process, and conceptualized in the major currents of contemporary thought, such as the Enlightenment, liberalism, and conservatism. The importance of scientific knowledge and new technologies. Analysis of the idea of Europe in the light of the emphasis on science and these currents and the importance of some social, political, and environmental problems in European studies, such as migrations, xenophobia, climate change, pandemics, and wars.

The method is theoretical and practical. Is based on the dialogic presentation of the syllabus, using either the reading and analysis of texts, or the analysis of specific cases, so that students participation in discussing the presented issues may be encouraged. Evaluation takes into account the participation in the classes throughout the semester (10%), one written test (50%) and an oral presentation (40%). The subject of the oral presentation can be a film related to the subject contents. For example, the film Contagion, directed by Steven Soderbergh, is related to the contents of the UC.The final assessment must be 10 or more.

[1] Bazela, Maciej. How Can Liberalism Thrive in the 21st Century? Sociológica, 2020, 35 (99), pp. 43-66.

[2] Black, Conrad. Conservatism and the Paradox of Europe. Reshaping Europe in the Twenty-First Century. London. Palgrave Macmillan, 1992.

[3] Dobson, A. Ecologism. In Contemporary Political Ideologies (ed) R. Eatwell. Routledge, New York, 2019. 

[4] Elias, N.. O Processo Civilizacional. Lisboa: D. Quixote, 1993.

[5] Fukyama, F. Depois dos Conservadores. A América na Encruzilhada. Lisboa: Gradiva, 2006.

[6]  Harcourt, W., Berg, K., Dupuis, C. Gaybor, J. (Eds), Feminist Methodologies: Experiments, Collaborations and Reflections. The Netherlands: Palgrave Macmillan, 2022.

[7] Kant, I. Resposta à Pergunta: O que é o Iluminismo? In A Paz Perpétua e Outros Opúsculos (pp.11-19). Lisboa: Edições 70 (original publicado em 1784).

[8] Freeman, S. Illiberal Libertarians: Why Libertarianism Is Not a Liberal View, Philosophy and Public Affairs, 30,  2 (Spring, 2001), pp.105-151.