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PHIL10030

Academic Year 2024/2025

Introduction to Modern Philosophy (PHIL10030)

Subject:
Philosophy
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Philosophy
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Assoc Professor Timothy Mooney
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

Can I be certain that there is a world outside me, or am I confined to my own mind alone? What can I know reliably about the world, if there is one? And if it exists knowably, how can I live with other people within it? Are we naturally selfish and dangerous? Or do we have a compassionate and gentle nature brutalised by a corrupt society? These are some of the questions to be discussed in this introduction to early modern philosophy of knowledge and social and political philosophy. The way of approaching the questions will be through a critical and historical treatment of selected writings by Descartes (1596-1650), Hobbes (1588-1679) and Rousseau (1712-1778).

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to: 1. Show familiarity with central themes and problems of modern philosophy, identifying their historical emergence and contemporary relevance. 2. Expound and evaluate key philosophical arguments set out in modern philosophy, showing their coherence and explanatory worth. 3. Write clearly, succinctly and critically on these central themes and problems of modern philosophy.

Indicative Module Content:

Scepticism about the material world; the Cogito and self-consciousness; the nature of thought; on whether a good God exists; truth and falsity; arguments for a material world and experience of same; how we can live together; the state of nature; war; the social contract; the arts and sciences; inequality; private property; the nature of the sovereign.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

93

Lectures

24

Tutorial

8

Total

125


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures; stated availability for discussion immediately before and after lectures and during office hours; weekly tutorials. Aims are to provide both a sympathetic understanding and critical attitude to the philosophical topics considered.

You must not use generative Al in any of your written assessments (essay and exam) for any purpose

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
PHIL1007E - Phil from Descartes to Roussea


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Assignment(Including Essay): One in-term essay of 1,400-1,500 words amounting to 30% of the total assessment. Deadline ordinarily set for the end of Week 8. Week 8 Graded No
30
No
Exam (In-person): One in-person exam of two hours duration with three questions having to be answered. Both sections (A and B) of the paper must be attempted. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
Graded No
70
No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Meeting after essay is graded to discuss its strengths and weaknesses. Availability for meeting after written examination.

Name Role
Haikyung Kwon Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Tues 10:00 - 10:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 Wed 12:00 - 12:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 Tues 13:00 - 13:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 3 Week(s) - 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 Tues 14:00 - 14:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 4 Week(s) - 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 Wed 11:00 - 11:50
Spring Tutorial Offering 8 Week(s) - 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30 Thurs 12:00 - 12:50