| Unit name | Themes in Modern European Philosophy 1 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHIL20051 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Seiriol Morgan |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
PHIL10005: Introduction to Philosophy A, PHIL 10006: Introduction to Philosophy B |
| Co-requisites |
none |
| School/department | Department of Philosophy |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
Students taking this unit study one or more central themes that emerge in the work of the philosophers of the post-Kantian period in European philosophy, through reading and discussing the work of particular philosophers writing in this period, and with these concerns in mind. The particular themes focused on may vary from year to year, but in each case will raise issues of enduring and general philosophical interest and importance.
The unit aims to give students a solid understanding of one or more central themes in the work of European philosophers of the C19 and C20, writing in the wake of Kant’s ‘Copernican revolution’ in Philosophy. The themes will be of enduring philosophical interest and significance. The positions and arguments advanced by particular philosophers in developing the theme(s) will be considered and assessed, and their continuing importance brought out.
Examples of possible themes and corresponding philosophers that might be studied:- Morality and Religion (Nietzsche and Kierkegaard), Human Freedom (Sartre, Kierkegaard), The Individual and Society (Hegel, Marx)
On successful completion of this unit students will: 1) Have a good understanding of one or more central themes developed in modern European philosophy, and why they are philosophically important 2) Be able to engage critically with the positions and arguments of the philosophers outlining these themes, and offer their own assessment of them. 3) Have further developed skills in reading philosophy, constructing and evaluating arguments, and writing philosophy, building on the skills acquired in units at level C.
12 x 1-hr lectures; 11 x 1-hr tutorials
Summative: Three hour unseen examination Formative: 2x 2000 word essays
These assessment methods contribute to the achievement of all the intended learning outcomes, in that 1) knowledge and grasp of the breadth of the issues raised with respect to these themes is required and developed by successful exam preparation, 2) all of the writing assignments (i.e. both formative essays and written answers to exam questions) require argumentative engagement with the material, and 3) the formative essays in particular help develop writing skills, both through practice and in dialogue with the tutor who marked them in essay tutorials
Literature will vary as the themes vary, but as an example, if the theme were human freedom and the associated philosophers the Existentialists, the following would be suitable:- Kierkegaard The Sickness Unto Death Stephen Evans Kierkegaard: An Introduction George Pattison The Philosophy of Kierkegaard Jean-Paul Sartre Being and Nothingness Sebastian Gardner Sartre’s Being and Nothingness: A Student’s Guide
