| 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. Seiriol Morgan |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
PHIL10005: Introduction to Philosophy A, PHIL 10006: Introduction to Philosophy B, PHIL20046: Realism and Normativity |
| Co-requisites |
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.
22 x 1-hr lectures; 11 x 1-hr seminars
15 minute tutorial on the formative essay.
Summative: Three hour unseen examination (ILOs 1-4)
Formative: 1x 2500 word essay (ILOs 1-4)
Literature will vary as the themes vary, but as an example, if the theme were German Idealism the following texts would be appropriate:- Fichte Introductions to the Science of Knowledge (ed. Breazeale) Karl Americks (ed) The Cambridge Companion to German Idealism Matthew Altman (ed) The Palgrave Macmillan Handbook of German Idealism Terry Pinkard Hegel’s Phenomenology: The Sociality of Reason Robert Pippin Hegel’s Idealism
