2023/24 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

PHIL5200M Mind, Language, Reality

30 creditsClass Size: 35

Module manager: Alastair Wilson
Email: A.J.J.Wilson@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

The module aims to provide students with a high level of understanding of contemporary work in philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, and metaphysics. The module does not aim to provide an exhaustive introduction to these three areas which would be impossible in one module. It instead provides students with an understanding of contemporary work in these areas which will enable them to understand what the most pressing issues in these areas are and to enable students to pursue work in these areas in their dissertations, independent studies, or further studies.

Objectives

The module aims to

Introduce students to contemporary work in metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and philosophy of language

Enable students to examine and evaluate arguments and positions made in this contemporary work

In the context of doing 1 and 2, enable students to grapple with a variety of problems, questions, and issues that arise in metaphysics, mind, and language

By virtue of doing 1-3, introduce students, some of whom will have done little work in metaphysics, mind and language before, to key positions, issues and contemporary debates in metaphysics, philosophy of mind and language

Provide students with the understanding and skills to produce original work of their own in metaphysics, philosophy of mind, and/or philosophy of language

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

Demonstrate advanced knowledge and understanding of issues in contemporary philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, and metaphysics

Demonstrate the ability to critically engage with and evaluate complex and varied material in contemporary philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, and metaphysics

Develop a critical and nuanced argument in essay form engaging with relevant material using their own independent critical skills and drawing on material from a range of relevant sources. 

Conduct independent research and to make appropriate use of supervision structures. 

Syllabus

The module will introduce students to contemporary positions and debates in philosophy of mind, language and metaphysics by introducing them to particular debates, ideas, and issues in these areas. The following is an example of some of the topics that might be included.

Theories of the nature of truth: is truth a substantial relation that holds when a proposition corresponds to some fact in the world, or should we be deflationists about truth who hold that to say that a proposition is true is just to assert this proposition? What, if anything, are the implications of these theories of truth for debates about the nature of reality or our judgments in ethics or aesthetics?

Issues in the philosophy of language such as how we should understand the nature of particular pieces of language such as metaphors and slurs.

Theories of meaning and reference: can we be mistaken about the meaning of what we say? Should we accept that meaning is determined by use or is determined by the way a term was originally used? And should we understand the meaning of all sentences as expressing our cognitive and non-cognitive mental states? And what are the implications of these views for our understandings of the world?

Issues in the philosophy of perception: if we can have a perceptual illusion or hallucination of something that from the inside, to us, is just the same as a genuine veridical perception of that thing, then do we ever perceive things themselves or just their appearances?

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Supervision	2	0.50	1.00
Seminar	11	2.00	22.00
Private study hours			277.00
Total Contact hours			23.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

Outside of formal meetings, students should expect to spend their time in private study as follows:

Weekly reading and preparation for seminars: 11 x 10 = 110 hours

Research, preparation and writing for essays 1 and 2: 83.5 hours per essay = 167 hours

(Approximately, for each essay, 50 hours research and preparation of essay plan, 33 hours writing and redrafting.)

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Formative feedback will be given:

In weekly, hour-long seminars, where the module leader will respond to student questions and support understanding based on the module content and readings.

In a one-to-one supervision (30 mins), where the module leader will comment and provide guidance and feedback on an essay plan (500 words) for the first essay.

In a second one-to-one supervision (30 mins), where the module leader will comment and provide guidance and feedback on an essay plan (500 words) for the second essay.



Student progress will be monitored:

Through the submission of a 2,500 word essay submitted mid-semester on which feedback will be provided.

Through the submission of a 2,500 word essay submitted at the end of the semester on which feedback will be provided.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2500 words	50.00
Essay	2500 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

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 27/10/2023

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