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Curricular information is subject to change
As a result of studying this module, students will learn to:
1. CRITICALLY ENGAGE with some classic and contemporary debates in metaphysics
2. IDENTIFY some key concepts and theories in metaphysics
3. INTERPRET and UNDERSTAND some classic and contemporary texts in metaphysics
4. WRITE a well-structured and well-argued philosophical essay that explains and critically assesses some of the key ideas and theories introduced in the module
5. ARTICULATE their own responses to philosophical views, support them with reasons, and defend them in the light of criticism
6. CREATE and DESIGN professional presentations and audio/visual projects (including an online philosophy 'explainer' video) introducing key ideas and theories in metaphysics
7. EXPLAIN complex ideas and theories to a diverse audience
8. COLLABORATE effectively and respectfully with other team members, listen to and learn from others, and make well considered team decisions
9. MANAGE and DIRECT both their own learning and their team's project
10. REFLECT on their own learning, and their strengths and weaknesses
The content of the module will be drawn from themes in *metaphysics*, the part of philosophy that investigates fundamental questions about reality. (That's not intended as a definition of "metaphysics", by the way -- the best way to understand what metaphysics is is through the kinds of questions metaphysicians ask. For a nice introduction to metaphysics, see here (copy and paste into your browser: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/metaphysics/)
Metaphysics is an incredibly broad and exciting area of philosophy, and covers questions as diverse as:
What is it for an action to be a morally good/bad one?
What is an artwork?
What is time, and what is change?
What is the relationship between the mind and the brain?
What is the subject-matter of mathematics?
Is there free will?
What is causation?
What is colour?
What is personal identity?
What is it for something to exist, and are there different 'grades' of existence?
What is for something to be possible?
What is it for some things to 'compose' something else?
What is truth?
To what extent is our reality socially constructed?
Is there a difference between reality as it appears and as it "really is"?
In the module we will cover some of these questions -- depending partly on your interests!
Student Effort Type | Hours |
---|---|
Lectures | 24 |
Tutorial | 8 |
Autonomous Student Learning | 93 |
Total | 125 |
Not applicable to this module.
Description | Timing | Component Scale | % of Final Grade | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Assignment: Reflective essay/module journal of up to 1,000 words. Due at the end of the trimester. | Unspecified | n/a | Graded | No | 20 |
Essay: 1,500 word research essay on a topic covered in the first part of the course. | Week 7 | n/a | Graded | Yes | 30 |
Group Project: Design and creation of two audio/visual philosophy projects (e.g. video-essay, podcast, posters, play, or comic book). One of these will be an online animated philosophy 'explainer' video. | Throughout the Trimester | n/a | Graded | No | 50 |
Resit In | Terminal Exam |
---|---|
Summer | No |
• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities
Not yet recorded.
Name | Role |
---|---|
Paraskevi Anastasia Filea | Tutor |