Meaning-making in Contemporary Society

Code
B3-ZIN5
Type
Course
Workload
7.5ECTS
Language of instruction
English
Term
Period 2 2023-2024, Period 2 2024-2025
Coordinator
Fernando Suarez Muller

This course is a philosophical approach to existential meaning-making and spirituality as it takes place in modern societies with a developed scientific and technological domains, dealing with the ecological crises and situated in a globalizing multicultural context. The course deploys important elements for a theory of ecohumanism. Wat is philosophical meaning making? What is Humanism and what Ecohumanism?How is it possible that the longing for spirituality is not diminishing but increasing? We live in secular societies, with post-secular spaces, as Jürgen Habermas calls it in his books on belief and science. This course takes up knowledge accumulated during past courses on meaning-making , ethics and philosophy. How does a spiritual humanism looks like? We will enter into ecohumanism and developments in modern ecoreligiosity and postsecular spirituality which have a strong connection with ecology. We will also explore the limits of science. A modern society is in need of a normative science that creates a connection between scientific results and existential questions.

After the successful completion of this course, students are able to:  

  1. Compare how diverse (organized) worldviews manifest themselves in the public debate with regard to selected social concerns  (learning outcomes 1b, 3a).
  2. Identify and discuss how (eco)humanist traditions and values are expressed in contemporary public debates (learning outcomes 1b, 2a, 3b, 4a).
  3. Substantiate how their own point of view regarding selected social concerns, relates to humanist traditions and values (learning outcomes 3b, 4a, 4b).
  4. Explain how meaning-making processes in societies are cultivated (learning outcome 2a).
  5. Analyse their own key findings on meaning-making– and worldview dynamics in the public debate, with the help of selected course literature (learning outcome 2a).

Mandatory: Bachelor year 1 & 2

AuthorTitlePriceISBNMandatoryExternal url
Separate texts are made available via ITSLearning systemYes

Worldview , Academic - and Professional Education

Worldview education: students develop insight into the role of worldviews in the pursuit of just society in general and pay specific attention to humanism.  

Academic education: students become acquainted with theories which are significant to understand meaning-making and humanization processes.  

Professional education: this course prepares students as worldview specialists in humanistic practices,  capable of participating in public debates on ethics and existential questions.

 

Brief explanation of cohesion with other courses  

This course builds on theories of worldviews to which the students were previously introduced in courses/tracks on meaning-making and humanisation, by reflecting on how worldviews manifest themselves in the public debate, with particular reference to humanism. A focus on the interconnection between meaning-making and humanisation is a distinctive feature of this course.

 

Format  

Lectures, mandatory workshops, self-study. 

  • ~Hoorcollege
  • ~Werkgroep
NameRole
Fernando Suarez MullerCoördinator