2009/10 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PHIL3542 Advanced Topics in Metaphysics

20 creditsClass Size: 70

Module manager: Prof. John Divers
Email: j.divers@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2009/10

Pre-requisite qualifications

Any Level 2 Metaphysical Philosophy core module

This module is not approved as an Elective

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

This module will take students through some issues in advanced contemporary metaphysics. The course will give students a change to engage with current research in metaphysics either by focussing in detail on a particular issue of current interest, or by covering several such issues.

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	30	1.00	30.00
Private study hours			170.00
Total Contact hours			30.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

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: 07/04/2011

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