Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Theory of Knowledge
Teaching staff
imorales@uic.es
Introduction
Knowledge is an operation that often leads to error, confusion, failure or skepticism. To clarify this, we need a theory, which is nothing more than an observation from a distance, in order to clarify what is happening to it and what is, if possible, knowledge. From this point of view we will go through the various questions that structure the theory of knowledge: its possibility, its essence and, finally, its origin.
In the background of the subject you will find the question of how knowledge is lived in highly technical societies, often prone to subjectivism and relativism, almost inevitable victims of manipulation and post-truth, but relying on science, in its progress, in its capacity for knowledge and guidance.
Pre-course requirements
No specific requirement.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- E01 - Ability to provide a humanistic/cultural vision to other sciences or methods.
- E02 - Ability to use methods and techniques specific to human sciences.
- E11 - Ability to interpret data and relate it to appropriate theories.
- G01 - To analyse and interpret social and cultural environments to identify need, opportunities, weaknesses and strenghts..
- G02 - To lead, cooordinate and form part of interdisciplinary work teams.
Learning outcomes of the subject
1. Applies acquired language skills to oral and written expression
2. Write narrative and descriptive texts
3. Acquire key concepts of each of the subjects
4. Know and select specific documentation of the subjects
5. Applies theoretical knowledge in analysis and debates of face-to-face activities and in autonomous work
9. Relate concepts of the different subjects worked in a transversal way
10. Learn to diagnose problems in the intellectual, social and political spheres
11. Read and analyze essays on current topics
13. Applies / transfers theoretical and / or abstract concepts of each subject to real situations
Syllabus
1. Knowledge and truth
1.1. Theories about truth
1.2. Objective and subjective aspects: truth and certainty
1.3. Knowledge and beliefs
1.4. Articulated forms of knowledge
1.5. Knowledge of truth today
2. Philosophical questions about knowledge
2.1. What is its essence?
2.2. Can we know?
2.3. What do we know?
2.4. How do we know?
3. Physical bases of knowledge
3.1. Neurobiology and human knowledge
3.2. What makes us human? Evolutionary differences in the human brain
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Classes will take the form of lectures supported by selected texts that will be discussed participatively in the classroom. Various methodologies will be included, such as flipped classroom, role playing, group participation, etc.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
Final exam: 100%
Bibliography and resources
Obres clàssiques:
Platón, Eutifrón
Platón, La República
Platón, Menón
Platón, Teeteto
Aristóteles, Metafísica
Descartes, Discurso del Método
Descartes, Meditaciones Metafísicas
Kant,I. Crítica de la razón pura
Husserl, E. La crisis de las ciencias europeas y la fenomenología trascendental
Obras actuales:
Arana, J., El caos del conocimiento: del árbol de las ciencias a la maraña del saber, EUNSA, Pamplona: 2004.
Arana, J., La conciencia inexplicada, Biblioteca Nueva, Madrid: 2015.
Diéguez, A., La evolución del conocimiento, Biblioteca Nueva, Madrid: 2011.
Ferraresi, M. Los demonios de la mente, Encuentro, Madrid, 2025.
Gabriel, M., Yo no soy mi cerebro: filosofía de la mente para el siglo XXI, Pasado y Presente, 2016.
Grupo Ciencia, Razón y fe (Universidad de Navarra): Recursos. https://www.unav.edu/web/ciencia-razon-y-fe/recursos
Hessen, J., Teoría del conocimiento, Espasa-Calpe, Madrid, 1981.
Llano, A., El enigma de la representación, Síntesis, Madrid: 1999.
Llano, A., Sueño y vigilia de la razón, EUNSA, Pamplona: 2001.
Llano, A., Gnoseología, EUNSA, Pamplona: 2014.
Llano, A. Teoría del conocimiento. BAC, Madrid: 2015.
Llano, A., Maravilla de las maravillas: conocemos, EUNSA, Pamplona: 2016.
Orwell, G. 1984. Edaf, 2020.
Pérez Marcos, M., La cosmovisión naturalista: Consecuencias epistemológicas, ontológicas y antropológicas. SAN ESTEBAN. Madrid: 2021.
Popper, K., Eccles, J., El yo y su cerebro, Labor, 2017.
Saramago, J., Ensayo sobre la ceguera, Debolsillo, 2015.
Yuste, R., El cerebro, el teatro del mundo, Paidós, Barcelona: 2024.