Philosophy (B-KUL-HBA52A)
Aims
Every science and every profession will at some stage confront its practititioners with fundamental questions. This also holds for economics and business. For instance, one might wonder to what extent managers should take into account other than strictly economic principles, such as social, ecological, philosophical, or ethical principles. The difficulty with such philosophical questions is that they transcend the framework of a strictly scientific or technical approach. They presuppose a wider view of the human being and of society, a view whose validity is not always self-evident. Yet, those questions are important to anyone who would like to understand what they are occupied with, and to anyone for whom professional activities are not just a means to an income.
In this course, the following key objectives are (partially or fully) realized:
- Has a functional multidisciplinary knowledge to identify social phenomena and to reflect on them, also from a philosophical-ethical perspective, and link them with the corporate and market reality in a reasoned way.
- Shows interest in current affairs and broadens his background knowledge.
- Estimates the impact of business operations on various stakeholders and society.
- Connects the psycho-social and ethical insights with the (business) economic reality in a reasoned way.
- Reflects on business and economic thinking and behaviour from a social and ethical point of view.
The position of the course in the framework of the learning objectives of the programme can be found under the section “Objectives” of the “Bachelor of Business Administration (Brussels)”.
Previous knowledge
No prior knowledge is required for this course.
Identical courses
This course is identical to the following courses:
Y00919 : Filosofie
HBH23A : Filosofie
HLH24A : Philosophy (No longer offered this academic year)
Is included in these courses of study
- Bachelor of Business Administration (Brussels) 180 ects.
- Bachelor of Business Administration: Double Degree Kedge (outgoing) (Brussels et al) 240 ects.
- Bachelor of Business Engineering (Brussels et al) 180 ects.
- Courses for Exchange Students Faculty of Economics and Business (Brussels)
- Bachelor of Business Administration: Double Degree Galway (outgoing) (Brussels et al) 240 ects.
Activities
3 ects. Philosophy (B-KUL-HBA52a)
Content
The course consists of two parts. Part 1 deals with Western Philosophy, part 2 deals with Eastern/comparative Philosophy.
Part I examines some of the philosophical principles underlying economic theories and presumptions. It looks at the way economists explain the origin of money, the problem of debt and the management of the economy and asks whether their ideas are philosophically sustainable. It will make particular use of the economists Francois Quesnay, Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Thomas Malthus, John Maynard Keynes, the philosophers John Locke and David Hume and the physicist Isaac Newton.
Part 2 broaches subjects such as joy, choice, nature, power,…. How do we deal with those subjects in daily life and how can philosophy help us to answer questions related to those topics. What are the different historical and cultural perspectives? Students are offered a comparative approach in which the following persons play a major role: Confucius, Socrates, Siddhartha Gautama, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tuttu, Matthieu Ricard...
Language of instruction: more information
Course is in English. Handouts are in English.
Format: more information
Lectures. Students are given the possibility to ask questions.
Evaluation
Evaluation: Philosophy (B-KUL-H70022)
Explanation
Credits: 3
* A credit is used to express the study load of each degree programme or course. Definition Credit: It is an internationally accepted unit that corresponds with 25-30 hours of prescribed teaching-, learning-and evaluation activities.
Contact Hours: 26
Study time and examination:
Overview Assignments / Training Periods:
Exam period June: Written exam.
Information about retaking exams
Exam period Aug/Sep
Cf. first exam period