| Unit name | Philosophical Themes |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHIL10038 |
| Credit points | 40 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Burch-Brown |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | Department of Philosophy |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Why is this unit important?
The unit aims to support students in developing their ability to closely engage with and analyse a broad range of philosophical texts. Each year it will explore four or more important philosophical themes from the broad history of philosophy (from the 6th century BCE to the late 20th century), covering a collection of distinct but complementary topics from the perspective of differing philosophical traditions and methodologies. The unit will focus on close reading of works by key historical thinkers in the areas covered and critical analysis of the ideas and arguments these works present. The unit will also introduce students to some of the key secondary literature on the relevant texts and will consider how the ideas presented in these texts relate to each other and to issues in contemporary philosophical debate.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
The unit provides students with skills in the interpretation and analysis of philosophical texts that will be applicable in all subsequent philosophy units. Each of the themes addressed will relate to content on at least one unit available in later years. The unit complements the first year units, while broadening and diversifying the curriculum, so that students can apply the critical analysis and essay writing skills that they develop on other first-year units to material from a broad range of different philosophical traditions.
An overview of content
The unit will focus on developing the philosophical methodology of comprehending and interpreting philosophical texts from a broad range of historical philosophical traditions and engaging in close analysis of texts, so as to develop original ideas and arguments.
Each year, the unit will focus on a collection four or more distinct but complementary philosophical themes, that exemplify a range of different philosophical approaches or traditions. Possible themes include (but are no means limited to) approaches to political legitimacy in modern thought; Classical Indian metaphysics; Ancient Greek approaches to happiness; 20th century Feminist approaches to gender; Logical Positivism and the Vienna Circle; Africana Philosophy and African communalism; Pre-Socratic philosophy; Buddhist conceptions of no-self; conceptions of freedom; reason and emotion in Kant’s and Hume’s philosophy; Baldwin’s philosophy and the civil rights movement; Plato’s Socrates; American Pragmatism; Wollstonecraft on women’s rights; Nietzsche’s nihilism.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students will come to appreciate the diversity of different philosophical approaches from various different historical philosophical traditions and begin to learn how to apply the methodological principles that they encounter in these traditions in developing their own philosophical ideas.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit students will be able to:
(1) Provide clear explanations, demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the philosophical themes and texts covered,
(2) Engage critically with the positions and arguments presented in the focal texts,
(3) Independently engage with some of the key secondary literature on the themes covered,
(4) Appreciate the differences between various philosophical styes and methodologies from an array of historical traditions in philosophy.
(5) Relate the ideas presented in the different texts covered to each other and to modern philosophical debates,
Lectures, small group work, individual exercises, seminars, student-led reading groups, and virtual learning environment.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
independent research reports (not required for credit)
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Essay (1500 words) (25%); [ILOs 1-3, 5]
Essay (1500 words) (25%) [ILOs 1-5]
Timed Assessment (50%) [ILOs 1-5]
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. PHIL10038).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
