Philosophical Topics
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| PHIL4039 | Philosophy | 4 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- PHIL4039
- School
- Philosophy
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
The module will cover topics from a range of areas in philosophy by focusing on particularly influential pieces of work. The module will cover one philosophical topic each week. Representative areas of philosophy include (but are not limited to):
- Philosophy of Language (Frege, Russell, Geach, Milikan, Saul, etc.)
- Epistemology (Haack, Zagzebski, etc.)
- Philosophy of Mind (Putnam, Chalmers, Churchland, etc.)
- Metaphysics (Quine, Kim, Thomasson, etc.)
- Political Philosophy (Rawls, Arendt, Appiah, etc.)
- Ethics (Ayer, Anscombe, Parfit, Nussbaum, etc.)
- Feminist Philosophy (Alcoff, Anderson, Haslanger, Fricker, etc.)
- History of Philosophy (Plato, Aristotle, Locke, Cavendish, Spinoza, etc.)
Target Students
MA students in Philosophy.
Classes
- One 2-hour seminar each week for 10 weeks
Assessment
- 100% Coursework: One 5,000 word essay
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
The module aims to provide an advanced general introduction to central issues and arguments in philosophy, debates over appropriate philosophical approaches, and philosophical writing. By the end of the module you should be able to understand some of the key issues and debates in the areas covered and be able to defend your own favoured position concerning them. More importantly, you will have gained philosophical skills (argumentative, research, and writing) that will benefit your philosophical work.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
Students should have a critical appreciation of contemporary disputes concerning the topics upon which the module focuses.
Skills
Students should be able to reason, philosophically, to a well-thought-out position regarding relevant debates in the areas the module covers.
Students should be able to express themselves clearly and precisely.
Understanding
Students should have a critical understanding of a variety of views and arguments pertaining to topics on which the module focuses.