Universitat Internacional de Catalunya - Barcelona

Theory of Knowledge

• code 09146
• course 3
• term Semester 2
• type OB
• credits 3

Module: Structures and systems of development

Matter: Sociedad y Cultura

Main language of instruction: Catalan

Other languages of instruction: Spanish

Head instructor

Dr. Bernat TORRES - btorres@uic.es

Office hours

 btorres@uic.cat

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.

No specific requirement.

• E01 - Ability to provide a humanistic/cultural vision to other sciences or methods.
• 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.
• E02 - Ability to use methods and techniques specific to human sciences.

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

Questions of knowledge

 1. Do we know?

Dogmatism

Skepticism

2- What do we know?

Realism

Idealism

3. How do we know?

Empiricism

Rationalism

The classes will consist of lectures with the support of texts selected by the professor, which will be commented on in the classroom. Throughout the course we will read a classic work of philosophy, especially illustrative of the theory of knowledge, to which specific seminary sessions will be dedicated.

The course will be evaluated from a test carried out at the end of the course (60%) and also from class participation and text commentary work (40%).

  Addendum: The final test will be done online due to the extraordinary circumstances decreed by the government.

Plató, Eutifró, Editorial Gredos (castellà) Bernat Metge (català)

Plató, Menó, Editorial Gredos (castellà) Bernat Metge (català)

Plató, Teetet, Editorial Gredos (castellà) o Bernat Metge (català)

Plató, Fileb, Edicions de la ela geminada (català)  

Descartes, Discurs del Mètode

Descartes, Meditacions Metafísiques

Kant,I. Crítica de la razón pura (Kritik der reinen Vernunft)

Cassirer, Ernst. El problema del conocimiento. I. Mexico: Fondo de cultura económica

George Santayana, Escepticismo y fe animal, La Balsa De La Medusa

Sales i Coderch, J. R., Coneixement i situació, Publicacions i Edicions de la Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, 2014 [1ª ed. 1988].

Hessen, J. (1981). Teoría del conocimiento. Madrid: Espasa-Calpe. Colección Austral

Lester Embree. (2013) Anàlisi reflexiva. trad. Carles Serra Pagès (Traductor). Barcelona: Universitat de Barcelona.