Literary Theory
Literary Theory
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Offered since 1994 by the Program in Theory of Literature at the University of Lisbon, this PhD is, above all, a PhD in the humanities. This postgraduate program does not deal with questions or write theses of a single kind. Understanding literature as an art form raises issues such as the relationship between literature and language, literature and interpretation, literature and other arts, literature and knowledge, literature and politics, literature and moral theory, literature and action theory, literature and philosophy.
The doctoral course consists of attending seminars during the four initial semesters. The conclusion of this teaching component depends on obtaining the classification “passed” in the Research Seminar II. Once the doctoral course is concluded, work begins on the thesis, which consists of an original unpublished dissertation with a maximum of 75 thousand words, demonstrating the autonomous research capacity of the candidates. The thesis must be presented within a maximum of ten semesters after admission to the study cycle.
The doctoral program offered by the Program in Literary Theory in the University of Lisbon since 1994 is, to a great extent, a program in the humanities. A large percentage of its students have previously graduated from the M.A. program in Literary Theory. Other students come from other schools and programs, both at home and abroad. An important part of its students has a previous background in non-humanistic areas. In the doctoral program there is not one required type of dissertation. The understanding of literature as an art form raises issues such as the relationship between literature and language, between literature and interpretation, literature and the other arts, literature and cognition, literature and politics, literature and moral knowledge, and literature and the philosophy of action. These issues are approached in accordance with the UL Regulation on Postgraduate Studies (chapter 5, 35).
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