Please note: Due to alternative arrangements for teaching and
assessment in place from 18 March 2020 to mitigate against the restrictions in
place due to COVID-19, information shown for 2019/20 may not always be accurate.
Please note: you are viewing unit and programme information
for a past academic year. Please see the current academic year for up to date information.
Unit name |
Epistemology and Metaphysics |
Unit code |
PHILM0021 |
Credit points |
20 |
Level of study |
M/7
|
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
|
Unit director |
Dr. Lena Zuchowski |
Open unit status |
Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None
|
Co-requisites |
None
|
School/department |
Department of Philosophy |
Faculty |
Faculty of Arts |
Description including Unit Aims
This is a Masters level foundation course in epistemology and metaphysics, and aims to provide a solid grounding in these central areas of philosophy for all masters and doctoral students in philosophy. The seminar will be based around a close reading of a series of important papers by contemporary philosophers. Topics to be covered will include: existence, identity, modality, causation, probability, knowledge, scepticism, internalism vs. externalism, and others.
The aim of the course is to acquaint students with the state-of-the-art in the contemporary philosophical literature in epistemology and metaphysics, two of the central topics of philosophy. We will read and discuss a selection of the best articles or book chapters that have appeared over the past thirty years. Each week, one of the students will present on the reading for that week; this will be followed by a discussion.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students should:
- Have acquired knowledge and understanding of various key issues in metaphysics and epistemology,
- be able to construct and analyze sophisticated philosophical arguments and engage with other philosophers in constructive debate,
- be able to communicate ideas clearly and effectively to an audience, using blackboard, handouts, data projection (e.g. PowerPoint).
Teaching Information
2-hour seminar each week + essay tutorials
Assessment Information
One essay of 5,000-6,000 words on a topic in epistemology and metaphysics.(excluding notes and bibliography).
Reading and References
Epistemology:
- Ralph Wedgwood, ‘The Aim of Belief’, Philosophical Perspectives, 16, pp.267?97, 2002.
- Thomas Kelly, ‘The Epistemic Significance of Disagreement’, Oxford Studies in Epistemology, 1, pp. 167?96, 2005.
- Jim Pryor, 'The Skeptic and the Dogmatist', Nous, 34(4), 517-549.
- Tamar Szabó Gendler (2008). Alief and Belief. Journal of Philosophy 105 (10):634-663.
- Jason Stanley and Timothy Williamson (2001) 'Knowing How' Journal of Philosophy 98(8)
Metaphysics:
- Hofweber, Thomas (2007) 'Innocent statements and their metaphysically loaded counterparts' Philosophers Imprint 7(1).
- Hitchcock, Chris (2003) 'Of Humean Bondage' British Journal for the Philosophy of Science 54(1): 1-25
- Ned Markosian, ‘A Defense of Presentism’, Oxford Studies in Metaphysics, 1, pp. 47?82, 2004
- Sally Haslanger, ‘Persistence, Change, and Explanation’ Philosophical Studies 56 (1989): 1?28
- Judith Jarvis Thomson 'The Statue and the Clay' Nous 1998, 32(2)