Philosophy  (PLJ1)

Philosophy is characterised by a set of distinctively philosophical problems about the world and about our place in it; about appearance and reality; about value and conflicts of value; about the nature and limits of our own mind and bodies. We aim to cultivate students’ understanding of such problems, partly by exploring what the great philosophers have been saying about them over many centuries. Philosophy is also characterised by a set of skills and attitudes relevant to one’s effort to understand and orient oneself within the problems, and to develop and defend particular solutions to the problems. The key place to learn such skills is in the small-group tutorial, which meets eight times for every module. Essay-writing is also central to the discipline. Philosophy provides a special course in thinking deeply, in reading critically, in listening patiently, in writing clearly, and in living a more reflective life.

1 - To develop a broad understanding of (i) the history of Western philosophy from Plato through to contemporary figures, both in the English-speaking world and in other European countries, as well as of (ii) contemporary philosophical movements and methodologies e.g. phenomenology and hermeneutics
2 - To examine the nature of the human mind, and its interaction with the world through the human body; to enquire into the fundamental structures of the universe, together with an appreciation of the powers and limits of scientific enquiry in uncovering such structures;
3 - To explore some of the important points in contemporary debates about ethics and politics and society;
4 - To analyse and clarify the meaning of difficult concepts in different contexts, to explore the presuppositions and implications of the use of such concepts, to distinguish such concepts from other similar concepts.
5 - In response to attempts to persuade using arguments (in text or speech), to analyse those arguments, to assess them fairly, to discover weak or false argumentative steps, and to develop a counter-argument.
6 - To acquire the grounding of an active citizenship, built on intelligently and tactfully challenging received ideas.
7 - To acquire a sensitivity to ignorance, obfuscation, fudging and self-deception, and to engage in detailed and persistent research and enquiry to eliminate them.
8 - To develop and articulate one’s own position on a range of issues, to anticipate challenges to such a position, and to recognise those issues on which one does not or cannot have a position..
9 - To seek more intelligently, and to better understand, the meanings in one’s life.

Stage 2

Students are required to select 25 option credits in stage 2.

Stage 3

Students are required to select 25 option credits in stage 3.

Stage 4

Students are required to select 25 option credits in stage 4.


Students wishing to take PHIL31130 Training as a Philosophy Researcher 1 and PHIL31140 Training as a Philosophy Research 2 must apply directly to the school for a place.

See the UCD Assessment website for further details

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Module Weighting Info