| Unit name | Themes in Modern European Philosophy 2 |
|---|---|
| Unit code | PHIL30117 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | H/6 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Wilhelm |
| 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 |
This unit provides students with the opportunity to make an in depth study of one or more central themes that emerge in the work of the philosophers of the post-Kantian period in European philosophy. This is done through reading and discussing the work of particular philosophers writing in this period and with these concerns in mind, and also via a close introduction to key interpretative issues arising in the contemporary secondary literature associated with them. 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 deep 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:- German Idealism (Fichte, Hegel, Novalis), the Self in the post-Kantian tradition (numerous), Hermeneutics (Dilthey, Heidegger, Gadamer, Ricoeur)
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to demonstrate:
1) a deep understanding of one or more central themes developed in modern European philosophy, and why they are philosophically important;
2) a solid understanding of some key issues and disputes in the contemporary secondary literature relating to the themes mentioned in 1), and how and why and why they are important to our understanding of the themes;
3) an ability to engage critically with the positions and arguments of these philosophers, both historical and contemporary, at a depth suitable to level H, and offer their own assessment of them;
4) skills in reading philosophy, constructing and evaluating arguments, and writing philosophy at an advanced level, building on the skills acquired in units at level I and level C.
1 x 2-hour lecture + 1 x 1-hour seminar per week.
Tasks which do not count towards your unit mark but are required for credit (zero-weighted):
Group presentation (0%, Required for credit) [ILOs 1-4]
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
4500-word essay (100%) [ILOs 1-4]
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. PHIL30117).
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.
