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Introduction to philosophy [235PO20]
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 only available for students studying the
Diploma in Philosophy).
Compulsory
units
Logic [235P070]
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
[235P025]
An investigation of the problems of analysing knowledge, and
dealing with the challenge of scepticism.
Greek
philosophy: the Pre-Socratics and Plato [235P085]
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 [235P095]
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
[235P065]
Study of the main metaphysical, logical and epistemological
views of Descartes, Locke, Berkeley and Hume.
Further
units
Metaphysics [235P075]
(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 [235P035]
(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 [235P120]
(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 [235P115]
(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 [235P125]
(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 from Hegel [2350190]
(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
[2350100]
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 [2350210]
(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.
Philosophy of Kant
[235P080]
(Prerequisite: 'Modern philosophy:
Spinoza, Leibniz and Kant' must be taken at the same time or
already have been passed).
A study of the views of Kant, with special reference to the
Critique of Pure Reason (ed. Kemp Smith), the
Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals, and the
Critique of Judgement, Pt. I.
The philosophies of Frege, Russell and Wittgenstein
[2350220]
(Prerequisite: 'Metaphysics' must be taken
at the same time or already have been passed).
The study of the foundations of analytic philosophy through an
exploration of the main works of Frege, Russell and
Wittgenstein.
Political
philosophy [235P090]
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 [2350130]
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.
Symbolic logic
[2350140]
(Prerequisite: 'Metaphysics' must be taken
at the same time or already have been passed).
The study of the metatheory of formal systems, set theory,
computability, and an exploration of non-standard logics. This
course is most naturally paired with the Philosophy of
Mathematics and demands some familiarity with technical
results in mathematics.
Philosophy of
science [2350120]
(Prerequisite: 'Methodology' must be taken
at the same time or already have been passed).
The study of explanation in science, including an
investigation of theories and theoretical reduction, laws of
nature, probability and confirmation, accounts of space and
time and the interpretation of quantum mechanics.
Philosophy of
religion [235P110]
(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.
Post-Aristotelian philosophy [2350150]
(Prerequisite: 'Greek philosophy:
Aristotle' must be taken at the same time or already have been
passed).
A study of the philosophical writings of the period from 322
BC to 600 AD. The Hellenistic and Neoplatonic traditions are
the main ones that figure in this period.
Medieval
philosophy [2350160]
(Prerequisite: 'Greek philosophy:
Aristotle' must be taken at the same time or already have been
passed).
The study of the metaphysical and epistemological writings of
the period from Augustine to Suarez, including besides these:
Boethius, Anselm, Aquinas, Aberlard, Duns Scotus and Ockham.
Al so studied are the medieval Jewish and Islamic traditions.
Indian philosophy
[2350170]
The study of the views of the central figures in the history
of Indian Philosophy. Note that a knowledge of Sanskrit is
recommended for the study of this subject.
Philosophy
of mathematics [2350230]
This course centres on the problem of how to give an account
of both mathematical knowledge and mathematical reality which
are plausible and coherent. Some knowledge of mathematics is
necessary, and this course forms a natural pair with 'Symbolic
logic'.
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