PHIL41240 John Henry Newman – a philosophical prespective

Academic Year 2023/2024

This course will provide an overview of the relationship between John Henry Newman and philosophy.
After having considered the two main philosophical sources of his formation, namely Aristotle and Cicero, his contribution to the 19th century intellectual debates will be examined.
Themes to be covered include the understanding of the historical development of ideas, the relation between education and morality, the justification of religious beliefs, the personal conquest of the truth, the tension between conscience and civic duties.
Newman's ideas will be compared with those philosophers whom he overtly confronted and criticised: John Locke, David Hume, Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill.
Finally the course will focus on his legacy and influence on later philosophers, particularly Ludwig Wittgenstein.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

At the end of the course students should have

(a)a critical understanding of Newman's main philosophical works, his life and timrd
(b) be able to identify and evaluate Newman's contribution to intellectual debates and
(c) be able to analyse historically and critically his relationship to other philosophers
(d) be in a position to evaluate Newman's strengths and weaknesses as an intellectual contributing to philosophical and theological debates

Indicative Module Content:

This course will provide an overview of the relationship between John Henry Newman and philosophy.Themes to be covered include the understanding of the historical development of ideas, the relation between education and morality, the justification of religious beliefs, the personal conquest of the truth, the tension between conscience and civic duties. Newman's ideas will be compared with those philosophers whom he overtly confronted and criticised: John Locke, David Hume, Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill. Finally the course will focus on his legacy and influence on later philosophers, particularly Ludwig Wittgenstein.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Seminar (or Webinar)

24

Autonomous Student Learning

226

Total

250

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module is TAUGHT on the basis of 12 two-hour seminars, one per week from Weeks 1-12.

In the seminars, material will be presented by the lecturer and students will have the opportunity to discuss and debate the week's readings and the material presented in the seminar in detail, as well as to raise questions concerning the material with the lecturer.

LEARNING for this module is centred around material presented in lectures, reading, discussion and debate, and writing. Students will be expected to read set texts in advance of the seminars, to attend and actively participate in seminars. Students will be supported in their learning of the module material by the lecturer in seminars, by email, and in set office hours. Students will be supported in their writing by comments on draft essays; clear feedback on submissions by the lecturer; and a clear rubric accompanying essays.
 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: 4000 word essay Unspecified n/a Graded No

70

Presentation: In-class presentation Unspecified n/a Graded No

30


Carry forward of passed components
No
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Name Role
Mr Angelo Bottone Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Spring
     
Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Wed 14:00 - 15:50