PHIL41610 Ontology

Academic Year 2020/2021

This module will begin by posing the foundational question of the history of philosophy: what is the meaning of being?
From this question, we will examine throughout the development of metaphysics, from Aristotle to Hegel and Heidegger, in which manner philosophical thought has approached and developed this very interrogation and furthermore how and according to which intention it has sought to furnish a coherent and systematic response.
Furthermore, we will deploy how and why ontology relates to ethics, theology, psychology and cosmology.
Lastly, we will examine in which manner the question pertaining to the essence of being is central and deploy a critical approach to the centrality of this very question (in reference to contemporary continental philosophy, for example in Derrida, Levinas, Deleuze).
Particular attention will be given to the following authors of the philosophical tradition: Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Fichte, Schelling, Hegel, Husserl, Heidegger, Levinas, Derrida and Deleuze.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

History of ontology from Aristotle to Heidegger.
Critiques of ontology in Derrida, Levinas and Deleuze.
Knowledge of singular philosophical authors: Aristotle, Kant, Fichte, Schelling, Hegel, Husserl, Heidegger, Derrida, Levinas and Deleuze.
Relationship between ontology and metaphysics, ontology and ethics, ontology and science, ontology and theology, ontology and history, ontology and justice.

Indicative Module Content:

Relationship between ontology and the history of metaphysics.
Relationship between ontology and ethics, theology, history, politics.
Philosophical systems from Aristotle to Heidegger.
Critiques of ontology: Derrida, Levinas and Deleuze.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Tutorial

8
Autonomous Student Learning

93
Total

125
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module is based on lecturing and study of philosophical canonical texts.
Individual one-on-one meetings with all students registered in the module.
Individual tutoring for essay writing and In-class exam preparation. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Recommendations:

It is recommended that students interested in this module have a solid knowledge of the history of philosophy, and most particularly of at least two of the following philosophers: Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Hegel and/or Heidegger.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Equivalents:
Ontology & Metaphysics (PHIL30740)


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Class Test: In Class Test based on the reading of a provided essay from the primary sources covered in the lectures. Week 6 n/a Graded Yes

25
Class Test: In Class Test based on the reading of a provided essay from the primary sources covered in the lectures. Week 12 n/a Graded Yes

25
Essay: Final Essay of 4000 words due 2 weeks after the end of lectures. Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded Yes

50

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, 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

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

All students will receive one-to-one feedback on all graded components of the module. As a complement to this one-to-one feedback, individual meetings with all students will be set up in order to discuss essay topic and writing both in advance of submission and post-submission in order to discuss the handed-in materials. Tutoring will also provide feedback on a rolling basis for this module.