Course Topics
° Diagnosis of the present era in light of classical positions of philosophy ° Between the present future and the future present: How does “the new” come into the world? ° The paradox of the future ° On the constitution of transformative knowledge ° Uncertainty and risk as elements of transformative knowledge ° From transformative knowledge to responsible decision-making ° Relata of responsibility ° Systemic and ethical responsibility ° Fundamentals of decision-making ° Measure, measuring, excess (lack of measure): horizons of decision-making ° Crisis, criterion, critique: moments of decision-making ° What does responsible and transformative decision-making mean? What requires responsible and transformative decisions?

Propaedeutic courses
None

Teaching format
Front-of-class and seminar style teaching. Students are required to prepare readings and are encouraged to participate in class discussions. — Supplementary exercises will address central topics and key concepts from the course.

Educational objectives
Knowledge and understanding: At the end of their studies, students will have acquired the following knowledge and skills: - diachronic textual knowledge and hermeneutic tools for understanding the phenomenon of human existence in the context of the establishment of the polis; - diachronic textual knowledge and instruments of epistemological analysis for understanding the relationship between philosophical and scientific knowledge, with particular emphasis on the ethical foundations of economics and the prerequisites and implications of economic modelling; - knowledge of selected basic philosophical positions and theoretical analytical tools for developing the autonomous ability to conceptualise and make ethical-philosophical diagnoses of phenomena; - knowledge of selected basic philosophical positions and theoretical analytical tools for understanding the fundamental institutions of the Western world; - knowledge of the relationship between nature and society based on fundamental concepts of the philosophical tradition, enabling an analysis of the human habitat and an understanding of the crises associated with the technologisation of nature in an economic context; - Knowledge of the philosophical reasons for decision-making criteria in the field of economics and their ethical implications, with the aim of understanding the element of responsibility that these reasons entail on both a theoretical and practical level. Applying knowledge and understanding: - the ability to detach oneself from the operational, contingent level and the corresponding forms of knowledge in order to engage with the realm in which meaning and the knowledge based on it are constituted; - the ability to distinguish between the factual cause of a situation and the origin or principle of a phenomenon; - the ability to understand the linguistic dimension and the differences between languages as an area of elaboration of philosophical thought; - the ability to adopt an autonomous cognitive and critical attitude, supported by an adequate capacity for conceptualisation at the methodological, theoretical and ethical levels. Making judgements Acquiring the necessary judgement and methodological tools for the critical analysis of data, sources, assumptions and implications of scientific practice, as well as the political, ethical and legal contexts in which economic phenomena are embedded and with which they interact. Communication skills Proficiency in written and spoken Italian, German and English, including the translation of these languages. Intercultural competence. Conceptual conciseness, ability to capture facts in writing, especially for scientific and science-based texts. Learning skills Promotion of critical thinking and analytical skills to recognise complex problems in their long-term dynamics and in the diversity of their - also ethical - implications.

Assessment
Final exam at the end of the term that consists of open questions to assess knowledge and understanding. Exam preparation should be based on the topics covered and the readings discussed in class. In addition to that, each student is expected to present and to submit an essay. The topic has to be established in accordance with the lecturer.

Evaluation criteria
The written exam counts for 70%, the presentation and written version of the essay for 30% of the final mark.. Relevant for the assessment: • knowledge and understanding • ability to ask adequate questions • critical thinking • analytical strength