2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue
PHIL3522 The Structure of Reality
20 creditsClass Size: 100
Module manager: Professor Steven French
Email: S.R.D.French@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2017/18
Pre-requisite qualifications
PHIL2542 Introduction to Metaphysics orPHIL2521 Realism & Anti-Realism
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Objectives
On completion of this module, students should have a reasonably detailed grasp of, and be able to think independently about, a number of interrelated metaphysical issues that have a particularly close connection with the philosophy of science.Syllabus
Overall theme: As Being is concerned with that exists, this module looks at what it is that imposes a structure on what exists: laws of nature, space, time, causality, etc.
The issues concerned naturally fall into two groups:
(a) Those concerned with causation, laws and natural kinds. Topics here would include some or all of the following: laws and law-statements, dispositions, causal asymmetry, counterfactuals, probability, determinism, natural kinds, essentialism.
(b) Those concerned with space and time. Topics here would include some or all of the passage of time, time without change, the boundaries of space and time, infinite divisibility, time travel, disunified space and time.
Topics linking both parts of the module would be the direction of time and the causal theory of time order.
Teaching methods
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
| Seminar | 27 | 1.00 | 27.00 |
| Private study hours | 173.00 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 27.00 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200.00 | ||
Private study
Seminar Preparation: 113 hoursEssay writing: 60 hours
Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Students will be asked to hand in work during one seminar each week which can form the basis of discussion with module leader in office hours.They will be invited to submit draft essay/mock exams prior to formal assessment. The module leader will comment on these on request.
Students will be invited to prepare and present material during seminars.
Methods of assessment
Coursework
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
| Essay | 1 x 2,000 word essay | 50.00 |
| Essay | 1 x 2,000 word essay | 50.00 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 24/01/2018
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- Undergraduate module catalogue
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