Contextualization

Modern and contemporary philosophy is marked by substantial changes in human thought. With the social, political, and scientific transformations that occurred from the 17th century onwards, philosophy becomes an increasingly questioning and reflective field.

Modern philosophy, which encompasses approximately the 17th and 18th centuries, is characterized by a great questioning of medieval thought. Notable philosophers such as René Descartes, John Locke, Baruch Spinoza, among others, led these new inquiries, challenging old paradigms and presenting new forms of philosophical consciousness.

Contemporary philosophy, which extends from the 19th century to the present, is no less revolutionary. It continues the tradition of modern philosophy but with a much more intense focus on the individual and society. Philosophers like Friedrich Nietzsche, Karl Marx, Jean-Paul Sartre, among others, addressed these issues with unique insight, further expanding the philosophical field.

Studying the historical context of modern and contemporary philosophy is crucial to understanding the evolution of human thought and how our societies have been structured over the centuries. Philosophy is a powerful tool that can help us question, reflect, and better understand the world we live in. Therefore, learning about these periods of philosophy allows us to have a clearer view of how our current beliefs and values have been shaped.

The changes and evolutions of thought that modern and contemporary philosophy have brought directly affect the way we live today. Concepts such as the separation between religion and state, freedom of expression, and the search for the meaning of life, so present in our daily lives, have their roots deeply embedded in these periods of philosophy.

Atividade Prática

Activity Title: "Living History of Modern and Contemporary Philosophy"

Project Objective

To promote a deep understanding of modern and contemporary philosophy through an experiential learning. Students will become experts on a specific philosopher and bring their ideas and thoughts to life.

Detailed Project Description

Divided into groups of 3 to 5, each group will choose a philosopher belonging to the periods of modern or contemporary philosophy to study in depth. Each group member must become familiar with the main works, ideas, and historical contexts of their chosen philosopher.

The groups will create a theatrical presentation representing a debate between the philosophers chosen by the groups. Each group member will portray the chosen philosopher, arguing and debating the philosopher's ideas in the first person. The presentation should be creative and engaging, incorporating a variety of media and cultural artifacts, such as music, art, literature, etc., related to the chosen philosopher.

The project will be concluded with the preparation of an individual report in which each student will detail their research and the preparation process for the debate, as well as reflections on the learning obtained.

Necessary Materials

• Reading material about the philosophers (books, articles, reliable websites)
• Materials for the presentation (e.g., costumes, accessories, music, etc.)
• Computer with internet access for research and report preparation

Step by Step

1. Formation of groups and choice of the philosopher to be studied by each group.
2. Research: each group member must study the chosen philosopher in depth, understanding their main thoughts, works, and the historical context in which they lived.
3. Planning the presentation: the group must organize a script for the theatrical presentation representing a debate between the chosen philosophers.
4. Preparation of the necessary resources for the presentation.
5. Presentation of the theatrical debate to the class.
6. After the presentation, each student will individually write a detailed report on their research and experiences during the project.

The total estimated time for the activity is approximately 2 to 4 hours per student.

Project Delivery

After the execution of the theatrical presentation, each student must write a report. The report should consist of:

1. Introduction: The student must contextualize the chosen philosopher, the relevance of their ideas and application in the real world, as well as the objective of this project.
2. Development: The student must explain the theory behind the chosen philosopher, detail the preparation for the presentation, indicate the methodology used for the research and study of the philosopher, and finally present and discuss the results obtained in this project.
3. Conclusion: The student must conclude the work by summarizing their main points, explaining the learnings obtained, and drawing conclusions about the project.
4. Bibliography: The student must indicate the sources they relied on to work on the project such as books, web pages, videos, etc.

The report must be submitted one week after the theatrical presentation. Teamwork, the quality of the presentation, and the individual report will be evaluated.