FSS:ENSb1115 Introduciton to Philosophy - Course Information

ENSb1115 Introduction to Philosophy

Extent and Intensity

2/0/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching

Teacher(s)

doc. Mgr. Karel Stibral, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Mgr. Bohuslav Binka, Ph.D. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

doc. Mgr. Bohuslav Binka, Ph.D.
Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Klára Dubinová
Supplier department: Department of Environmental Studies – Faculty of Social Studies

Prerequisites

! ENS115 Introduciton to Philosophy &&!NOW( ENS115 Introduciton to Philosophy )&&TYP_STUDIA(B)
None

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 8 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Abstract

Main aims of the course can be devided: A. Present the evolution of european philosophy with the connection to the main streams of european culture. B. Introduce basics of scientifical thinking.

Learning outcomes

After finishing the course, the student will be able to understand the basis of philosophy and philosophy of science and find their connections and inspirations for environmental thinking. The student will be able to classify and discuss different concepts and approaches of thought.

Key topics

Structure of lectures: 1. An introduction - definition of philosophy, the beginnig of philosophy in ancient Greece. Ancient Greece and Nature. 2. Presocratics, Socrates. 3. Plato. 4. Aristotle. 5. Helenistic and late antiquity philosophy. 6. Middle ages philosophy 7. Renaissance philosophy 8. Philosophy of 17th and 18th century. Galilei, Newton, Descartes, Leibnitz, Enlightment era. 9. J. J. Rousseau. I. Kant and their philosophy. 10. Science, philosophy of science in the 19th and 20th century. 11. 19th and 20th century philosophy 12. 20th century philosophy- Existencialism, Heidegger. 13. Postmodern philosophy

Study resources and literature

recommended literature
• TRETERA, Ivo. Nástin dějin evropského myšlení : od Thaléta k Rousseauovi. 5. vyd. Praha: Paseka, 2006, 374 s. ISBN 8071858196. info
• STÖRIG, Hans Joachim. Malé dějiny filosofie. Edited by Petr Rezek, Translated by Miroslav Petříček - Karel Šprunk. 7., přeprac. a rozš. vyd.,. Kostelní Vydří: Karmelitánské nakladatelství, 2000, 630 s. ISBN 8071925004. info
• JASPERS, Karl. Úvod do filosofie : dvanáct rozhlasových přednášek. Praha: Oikoymenh, 1996, 119 s. ISBN 8086005054. info
• KRATOCHVÍL, Zdeněk. Mýtus, filosofie, věda. 2. nezměn. vyd. Praha: Hrnčířství a nakladatelství Michal Jůza & Eva Jůzová, 1995, 314 s. +. ISBN 80-7111-021-3. info

not specified
• RUSSELL, Bertrand. A history of western philosophy. New York: Touchstone Book, 1972, xxiii, 895. ISBN 0671201581. info

Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching

The course's teaching methods include classical lectures, dilemma games, discussion, lectures based on powerpoint presentations, it also includes separate reading of the texts.

Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements

Written final exam, participation in a discussion evening with your own contribution to the assigned topic or (alternatively) development of a topic on the chosen topic (the topic is determined in the IS for this period - autumn 2025).

Language of instruction

Czech

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Kurz se otevírá při 5 a více přihlášených studentech.

Teacher's information

Conditions for completing the course Philosophy for Environmentalists 1. Successfully writing a written paper 2. Participation in a discussion evening with active discussion on the chosen topic - discussion evenings will always be on Wednesday (you have the option to choose one of three dates during the semester /see below/) 3. Submitting the prepared topic according to the assignment (if participating in the discussion evening is unpleasant for you) 4. For points 2 and 3, you only need to complete one of them Written paper: A) multiple choice questions (everything can be good, everything can be bad and any combination), B) open questions, C) questions with the need to take a position on the topic and argue your own position Elaboration of the topic: you choose one of the topics, you work on it and submit it by 31 December, I will evaluate it and you are done. Participation in the discussion evening: you come to the discussion evening and participate in the discussion on the topic. This is done. Of course, it is good to think about your contribution in advance and answer it. - First discussion evening: Wednesday 22. 10. (classroom: U35) from 20:00 to 21:00 – topic: “What does a good life mean to me and what are the biggest obstacles to a good life?” /discussion genre “ancient Greece”/ - Second discussion evening: Wednesday 29. 10. (classroom U35) from 20:00 – topic: “What does lived freedom look like, what is “core” in freedom and what is only “marginal”?” (discussion genre “renaissance”) - Third discussion evening: Wednesday 5. 11. (classroom U35) from 20:00 – topic: “Does scientific knowledge bring us more good or evil”? – discussion genre: “20th century”

• Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2026, recent)
  
• Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2026/ENSb1115