BA and Diploma in Philosophy
Syllabus
Introduction
to philosophy
An introduction to the subject matter and methods of philosophy by means of
a study of certain fundamental philosophical problems and texts. Included here
will be: the problem of free-will and determinism, the nature of the self,
arguments for equality and the foundations of knowledge.
(Note: this subject is now available
to study as a short course).
Compulsory units
Logic
The course itself is broadly concerned with the philosophical questions that arise from logic. Topics included are: truth, conditionals and validity,
reference, necessity, vagueness, as well as a number of issues addressing
the relationship between natural language and logic.
(Note: it is advised that students acquire
some background in elementary formal logic either whilst doing this unit, or
before attempting it).
Epistemology
An investigation of the problems of analysing knowledge, and dealing with the
challenge of scepticism.
Greek philosophy:
Plato and the Pre-Socratics
The interpretation of the extant fragments of Pre-Socratic Philosophy and a
selection of Plato's dialogues, including (but not limited to) The Republic,
Symposium, Theatetus, Phaedo, Philebus and Parmenides.
Ethics:
historical perspectives
An exploration of the history of moral philosophy. Views studied include those
of Plato, Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Mill, Moore and Ayer, as well as the history
of such doctrines as deontology, naturalism, utilitarianism and emotivism.
Modern
philosophy: Descartes, Locke, Berkeley and Hume
Study of the main metaphysical, logical and epistemological views of Descartes,
Locke, Berkeley and Hume.
Further units
Metaphysics
(Prerequisite: 'Logic' must be taken at the same time
or already have been passed).
An exploration of the main questions of metaphysics, including those raised
by the nature of substance, problems of identity and individuation, as well
as issues involving time, causation and universals.
Methodology: Induction, reason and science
(Prerequisite: 'Epistemology' must be taken at the same
time or already have been passed).
An investigation of explanation generally, and in science, as well as the problems
of induction and confirmation.
Greek philosophy:
Aristotle
(Prerequisite: 'Greek philosophy: the Pre-Socratics and
Plato' must be taken at the same time or already have been passed).
The study of the broadly metaphysical, logical and epistemological doctrines
of Aristotle. Works covered include: Physics, On God, De Anima (On the
Soul), Categories and Posterior Analytics and Metaphysics.
Ethics:
contemporary perspectives
(Prerequisite: 'Ethics: historical perspectives' must
be taken at the same time or already have been passed).
An investigation of the central questions in moral philosophy including such
issues as: the metaphysical status of moral value, morality and truth, theories
of the good, moral relativism and moral conflict, consequentialism and moral
accountability.
Modern philosophy:
Spinoza, Leibniz and Kant
(Prerequisite: 'Modern philosophy: Descartes, Locke,
Berkeley and Hume' must be taken at the same time or already have been passed).
Study of the main metaphysical, logical and epistemological views of Spinoza,
Leibniz and Kant.
Optional units
Continental
philosophy: Hegel, Schopenhauer and Nietzsche
(Prerequisite: 'Modern philosophy: Spinoza, Leibniz and
Kant' must be taken at the same time or already have been passed).
The main doctrines of Post-Hegelian philosophers from Schopenhauer, and the
doctrines and methods of phenomenological philosophers from Brentano to Merleau-Ponty.
Philosophy
of mind
An exploration of the problems raised by intentionality, consciousness and
action. Issues covered include: the relationship of the mind to the physical
world, the understanding of subjectivity and the nature of human action
Philosophy
of language
(Prerequisite: 'Metaphysics' must be taken at the same
time or already have been passed).
An exploration of the notion of meaning as well as an investigation into the
more detailed problems arising from study of natural language. Included are
topics such as metaphor, reference and the nature of rules and language.
Political
philosophy
The study of the history of political philosophy as well as an investigation
of contemporary issues. Included in the historical part of the course are works
by Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Rosseau, Hegel, Marx and Mill. Contemporary
issues involve topics such as the state, justice, democracy, equality, toleration,
liberty, rights, social choice theory and feminism.
Aesthetics
An investigation of problems such as: the nature and value of art, aesthetic
judgement, representation, expression and interpretation. Included will be
a historical approach to these issues involving writers such as Plato, Aristotle,
Kant, Neitzsche and Collingwood.
Philosophy
of religion
(Prerequisite: 'Methodology' must be taken at the same
time or already have been passed).
The overall aim of this course is the philosophical scrutiny of the claims
of religious believers and those made on behalf of the major religious traditions.
Specific topics include: arguments for God’s existence, an investigation
of religious language, the nature of religious experience and the issue of
the soul and immortality.