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2016/17 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PHIL3542 Advanced Topics in Metaphysics

20 creditsClass Size: 70

Module manager: Dr. Ellen Clarke

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2016/17

Pre-requisite qualifications

Any Level 2 Metaphysical Philosophy core module

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Whilst the level 2 metaphysical core courses (one of which you must have done to take this course) cover the basic introductory topics in metaphysics, and while PHIL3522 "Structure of Reality" covers in depth particular issues in metaphysics concerning laws of nature, time and space etc, this course gives us free reign to tackle in depth any topic or topics from contemporary metaphysics. The module leader will take you through some areas of her or his current research in metaphysics, and you will in your essays be asked to make a contribution to that field, thus learning what it is like in contemporary metaphysics at an advanced level.The particular topics to be covered will vary from year to year, since the intention of this course is that its subject matter will not be fixed and static, but will reflect the changing research interests of the module leader, thus ensuring that students get to participate first-hand in an exciting area of contemporary metaphysical debate. You can contact the module leader for specific information on the topics to be covered in the upcoming session.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. display in oral and written form knowledge and understanding of some central theories, disagreements, problems, and arguments of several module subtopics;
2. read and analyse complex texts and be sensitive to issues of interpretation;
3. use a variety of philosophical techniques (example, description, argument) in written communications;
4. engage in philosophical - especially, metaphysical - theorizing, analysis, and evaluation

Learning outcomes
Students will:
i) be aware of some current debates in metaphysics and how they are being conducted;
ii) be able to engage with those debates at an advanced level;
iii) understand what is required to research in metaphysics.

Syllabus

We will look in depth at some issues in contemporary advanced metaphysics.

The particular issues will vary from year to year, as it is expected that they will reflect the current research interests of the module leader, but may include such topics as:
i) the nature of time;
ii) the nature of modality (whether the world could have been otherwise) and possible worlds;
iii) ontology: what there is, and how we discover it;
iv) ontic indeterminacy: whether the world could be fundamentally indeterminate;
v) the philosophy of mathematics: whether numbers exist, whether maths is a game or science, etc;
vi) the nature of persons and free will.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	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

100 hours private reading, reviewing class notes, etc.
73 hours essay preparation (including background reading)

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

A 2,000 word assessed essay will be due roughly midway through the semester. Essay topics will be given out and the student will write on one of the topics

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1 x 2,000 words	50.00
Essay	1 x 2,000 words	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

There is no reading list for this module

Last updated: 07/09/2016

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