| 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. Jones |
| 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.
SUMMATIVE: Open-book take home exam - 100% [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. 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 Faculty 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. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
