| Unit name | Realism and Normativity |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHIL20046 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | I/5 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Stamets |
| 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 |
n/a |
| School/department | Department of Philosophy |
| Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit is designed to cover a series of centrally important philosophical issues, positions, and strategies, which in one way or another will often be presupposed by all the other philosophy you study. The unit itself has two components, one concerned with metaphysics and logic, the other with value theory. The material covered in the normativity component will provide a good source of examples and case-studies for some of the issues considered in the proceeding realism component.
Realism: This part of the unit will cover a variety of key topics and issues within metaphysics and logic. In particular, we will consider the distinction between realism and anti-realism, the various forms which anti-realism may take, and the form of arguments standardly given, both for and against, adopting anti-realism with respect to a given subject matter.
Normativity: This component of the unit will provide an introduction to metaethics informed by the material concerning realism/anti-realism covered in the first component. In particular, we shall be concerned with the key metaethical questions of the nature and status of moral claims and the relation between motivation and moral judgements and the conception of (practical) reasons.
On successful completion of the unit students will be able to:
(1) demonstrate detailed knowledge and in-depth understanding of the realism/anti-realism debate, including the variety of forms which anti-realism may take and the form of arguments standardly given for and against adopting the different forms of anti-realist positions,
(2) demonstrate detailed knowledge and in-depth understanding of the key questions in metaethics including the nature and status of moral claims and the relation between motivation and moral judgements,
(3) demonstrate detailed knowledge and in-depth understanding of how the realism/anti-realism debate is connected to the key questions in metaethics,
(4) demonstrate the ability to apply the theoretical approaches and tools introduced and developed in the unit to novel philosophical problems and issues,
(5) demonstrate skills in philosophical writing, analysis, and argument, appropriate to level I/5.
Lectures, small group work, individual exercises, seminars and virtual learning environment.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
1,500-word Essay (0%, Not Required for credit) [ILOs 1-5]
Tasks which do not count towards your unit mark but are required for credit (zero-weighted):
None
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Timed assessment (100%) [ILOs 1-5]
When assessment does not go to plan
When required by the Board of Examiners, you will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. However, the Board reserves the right to modify the form or number of reassessments required. Details of reassessments are normally confirmed by the School shortly after the notification of your results at the end of the academic year.
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. PHIL20046).
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 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.
