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Faculties & Departments
Department of Philosophy/Roinn na Fealsúnachta
Welcome
Richard FitzRalph:
His Life, Times and Thought.
A conference to commemorate the 650th
anniversary of his death.
National University of Ireland
Maynooth,
November 15-17, 2010
Further Information: Richard FitzRalph: His Life, Times and Thought.
Philosophy: An Introduction
Philosophy is a new subject to all students entering university, and the courses offered in it will take account of this fact. It should not be regarded as particularly exotic or difficult; in fact it has always been an important part of the higher education curriculum in Europe.
The word 'Philosophy' means (in Greek) the desire for wisdom and implies a continual search for enlightenment and understanding. Philosophy involves a lifelong effort to reach some integrated understanding of experience, whether that be 'ordinary', aesthetic, religious, scientific or political experience. As a rational discipline, philosophy is dedicated to the critical evaluation of accepted beliefs and of human experience in general. Thus philosophy is both critical and constructive. It is critical of accepted ways of thinking, but it is constructive in that it is always striving to reach a more adequate understanding of human life from a perspective that transcends the positive sciences.
Philosophy is not a qualification to do a particular job; rather it is a valuable component of general education. The expertise gained in Philosophy is of great value in many different careers. Philosophy is a good preparation for an academic career, for journalism, law, radio and television and the media in general, for politics and increasingly Philosophy graduates are being hired by large corporations. Philosophy graduates are valued for their quick intelligence, their ability to reason clearly and independently and their ability to take an overview on the problem or situation confronting them.
*Please go to General Information for more details on Philosophy Lectures and Seminars.
An Fhealsúnacht: Réamheolas
Is ábhar nua í an Fhealsúnacht do gach mac léinn a théann ar ollscoil agus tuigtear sin maidir le gach cúrsa fealsúnachta a thugtar san ollscoil. Níor chóir go gceapfaí gur ábhar coimhthíoch ná deacair ar shlí atá san Fhealsúnacht ach oiread; go deimhin bhí an fhealsúnacht mar chuid thábhachtach den churaclam ardoideachais san Eoraip riamh anall.
Is éard atá i gceist leis an bhfocal ‘Fealsúnacht’ féin (sa Ghréigis) ‘dúil sa chríonnacht’ agus tuigtear gur cuardach leanúnach ar eagnaíocht agus ar thuiscint atá i gceist léi. Tá iarracht ar feadh an tsaoil i gceist leis an bhFealsúnacht chun tuiscint lánpháirtithe a fháil ar thaithí, cibé más ‘gnáththaithí’, taithí aestéitiúil, reiligiúnach, eolaíoch nó pholaitiúil atá i gceist. Mar dhisciplín réasúnach, tá an Fhealsúnacht dírithe ar mheastóireacht criticiúil, ar thuairimí a nglactar leo agus ar an taithí dhaonna go ginearálta. Mar sin, tá an Fhealsúnacht criticiúil agus cuiditheach. Bíonn an Fhealsúnacht criticiúil maidir le bealaí smaointeoireachta inghlactha ach bíonn an Fhealsúnacht cuiditheach ar shlí toisc go mbítear i gcónaí ag iarraidh tuiscint níos fearr a fháil ar an saol daonna ó pheirspictíocht atá sa bhreis ar na heolaíochtaí deimhneacha.
Níl cáilíocht chun post ar leith a dhéanamh i gceist leis an bhFealsúnacht, ach is cuid luachmhar den oideachas ginearálta í. Beidh an saineolas a fhaightear ón bhFealsúnacht an-luachmhar i ngairmeacha éagsúla beatha. Is réiteach maith í an Fhealsúnacht do ghairm bheatha acadúil, don iriseoireacht, don dlí, don raidió agus don teilifís agus do na meáin tríd is tríd, don pholaitíocht. Agus bíonn céimithe Fealsúnachta á bhfostú ag corparáidí móra go forleathan freisin. Bíonn céimithe Fealsúnachta fiúntach dá n-éirim aigne, an cumas a bhíonn acu réasúnú go soiléir agus go neamhspleách agus cumas iontu léargas iomlán a fháil ar an bhfadhb nó ar an gcás a bhíonn rompu.
*Téigh chuig Eolas Ginearálta le do thoil chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil maidir le Léachtaí agus Seimineáir na Fealsúnachta.
PHILOSOPHY EVENTS
Please go to General Information for more details.
Maynooth Philosophical Papers
Issue 5 (2008) is now available on the website. Please go to publications.