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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2013/2014 -
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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences : Philosophy

Postgraduate Course: Scepticism MSc (PHIL11117)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Humanities and Social Science
Course typeStandard AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) Credits20
Home subject areaPhilosophy Other subject areaNone
Course website None Taught in Gaelic?No
Course descriptionThis course provides an introduction to philosophical scepticism. Topics may include: the history of scepticism in Ancient and Modern philosophy, sceptical arguments in contemporary epistemology, anti-sceptical strategies (idealism, pragmatism, Mooreanism, reliabilism, contextualism), the problem of induction, scepticism about testimony, and practical consequences of scepticism.

Scepticism MSc is also shared with the undergraduate version Scepticism (PHIL10139).

Taught by Dr Aidan McGlynn, Dr Nick Treanor and Prof Duncan Pritchard

Formative feedback:
- opportunity to submit a formative essay by week 6
- feedback sessions fortnightly (on average) throughout course
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements None
Additional Costs None
Course Delivery Information
Delivery period: 2013/14 Semester 2, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Learn enabled:  Yes Quota:  5
Web Timetable Web Timetable
Course Start Date 13/01/2014
Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 20, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 174 )
Additional Notes
Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
No Exam Information
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will:

- Be familiar with central arguments for and against philosophical scepticism.
- Understand the role that scepticism plays in contemporary epistemological theorising.
- Be able to reason clearly and critically about sceptical arguments and antisceptical positions.
- Be able to interpret both historical and contemporary philosophical texts.
Assessment Information
One 2,500-word essay.

Assignment deadline: Monday 14th April, 12 noon
Word limit: 2500
Return deadline: Tuesday 7th May 2014
Special Arrangements
None
Additional Information
Academic description Students who complete Scepticism MSc, along with Epistemology 2, satisfy the requirements for the epistemology specialization for the MSc in Philosophy (taught).

For more information on the MSc in Philosophy (taught):

http://www.philosophy.ed.ac.uk/phil_students/postgraduate/msc_in_philosophy.php
Syllabus Not entered
Transferable skills Students will demonstrate the following transferable skills:

- evaluating abstract theoretical claims
- grasping and analysing complex arguments
Reading list Texts that may be studied in this course include:

Sextus Empiricus, Outlines of Scepticism.
Hume, selections from Enquiry concerning Human Understanding.
Descartes, Meditations.
Reid, Inquiry into the Human Mind on the Principles of Common Sense.
Stroud, The Significance of Philosophical Scepticism.
Chalmers, "The Matrix as Metaphysics"
Moore, "Four Forms of Scepticism"
Nozick, "Knowledge and Skepticism"
Dretske, "Epistemic Operators"
Sosa, "Beyond Skepticism, to the Best of our Knowledge"
Sosa, "How to Defeat Opposition to Moore"
Lewis, "Elusive Knowledge"
DeRose, "Solving the Skeptical Problem"
Stroud, "Scepticism, ¿Externalism¿, and the Goal of Epistemology"
Fumerton, Metaepistemology and Skepticism
Sosa, "Philosophical Scepticism and Epistemic Circularity"
Wittgenstein, On Certainty
Strawson, Scepticism and Naturalism: Some Varieties
Study Abroad Not entered
Study Pattern Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserProf Duncan Pritchard
Tel:
Email: duncan.pritchard@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Lynsey Buchanan
Tel: (0131 6)51 5002
Email: Lynsey.Buchanan@ed.ac.uk
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