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PHIL20010

Academic Year 2024/2025

Rationalism and Empiricism (PHIL20010)

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

Curricular information is subject to change.

How do modern treatments of substance and causality differ from what came before? Do we require certain knowledge, or is probable knowledge enough? Do we really need to go outside nature to explain nature? Are there such things as innate ideas, or is the mind at its beginning a 'blank slate' awaiting sense impressions from outside? Does my identity lie in the unconscious, or in conscious experiences I can call my own, or both? In this course we will explore these questions, and others, by looking at the contrasting ideas and arguments put forward in the great philosophical traditions of Rationalism and Empiricism. Following a brief consideration of Descartes' later work, the philosophers to be examined in most detail will be Spinoza, Locke, Berkeley and Leibniz.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Ability to show a grasp of the central historical themes and ideas of the major empiricist and rationalist philosophers. Ability to identify the major arguments within and between the work of these philosophers and to engage wih these arguments. Ability to present well reasoned, textually sensitive and professionally presented accounts defending or attacking the positions of these philosophers with respect to the key issues they are concerned with. Ability to show what is of enduring philosophical worth in these ideas and arguments.

Indicative Module Content:

The nature of substance; mind and body; the nature of mind and world; dualism and monism; on the existence and nature of God; the nature and role of empirical experience; the question of innate ideas; personal identity; subjective idealism.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

20
Tutorial

7
Autonomous Student Learning

98
Total

125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures and availability for discussion immediately before and after lectures and during office hours. Weekly tutorials and feedback on essays. Aims are to provide a sympathetic understanding and a critical perspective on the philosophical topics considered.

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

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

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 1,500-2,500 words to comprise 30% of the final grade. Essay deadline typically set for Week 8. Week 8 Graded No
30
 No
Exam (In-person): One in-person examination of two hours duration, with three questions having to be answered. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Graded No
70
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
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?

Feedback offered to students after grading of essays indicating strengths and weaknesses of same. Availability for feedback after examination.

Name Role
Sophie Foley Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 11:00 - 11:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Tues 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Mon 10:00 - 10:50
Autumn Tutorial Offering 2 Week(s) - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Mon 17:00 - 17:50
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