Undergraduate Course: Learning to Philosophize (Credit Plus) (LLLI07004)
Course Outline
| School | Centre for Open Learning |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This is a for-credit course offered by the Centre for Open Learning (COL); only students registered with COL should be enrolled. Is abortion wrong? How do I know that you have a mind? Is there anything special about science? As well as an introduction to a broad range of philosophical questions such as these, this course focuses on the development of study skills such as essay writing and note taking. |
| Course description |
Content of course
1. What is philosophy?
An introduction to the nature of philosophy. (E.g.: How does philosophy differ from other academic subjects? Do we need to philosophize at all?)
2. God
An introduction to the philosophy of religion. (E.g. Does God exist? Is religious belief like a virus?)
3. Right and wrong
An introduction to moral philosophy. (E.g. Should we aim at doing our duty or pursuing pleasure? Are there different standards of right and wrong for different people and societies?)
4. Continuation of week 3.
5. Politics
An introduction to some issues in political philosophy. (E.g.: What is liberty and why is it important? Should we allow positive discrimination in the workplace?)
6. Continuation of week 5.
7. The external world
An introduction to epistemology. (E.g. What can we know about the world? Where do our ideas come from?)
8. Science
An introduction to the philosophy of science. (E.g. Is it reasonable to expect that the sun will rise tomorrow? How does science differ from other forms of human enquiry?)
9. Mind
An introduction to the philosophy of mind. (E.g. Do computers have minds? How do we know that other human beings have minds?)
10. Art
An introduction to the philosophy of art. (E.g. Is an original better than a forgery? Is photography an art?)
Essay writing skills, note-taking, effective reading, time-management, working with others, problem solving and other study skills will be taught mainly through the philosophical work of the course, backed up by discrete sessions where necessary.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2017/18, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 20 |
| Course Start |
Lifelong Learning - Session 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
78 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Centre for Open Learning 10 credit courses have one assessment. Normally, the assessment is a 2000 word essay, worth 100% of the total mark, submitted by week 12. To pass, students must achieve a minimum of 40%. There are a small number of exceptions to this model which are identified in the Studying for Credit Guide. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Read philosophical texts and analyze their arguments
- Display a familiarity with some central philosophical issues
- Express their understanding both orally and in writing
- Employ the relevant study skills required for successful study in philosophy
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Reading List
Readings
Essential
Warburton, N., ed., 2005. Philosophy: Basic Readings. 2nd ed. London: Routledge.
Recommended
Warburton, N., 2004. Philosophy: the Basics. 4th ed. London: Routledge.
Burnham, D., 2003. Get Set For University: Philosophy. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Web sources
Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy - http://www.rep.routledge.com/ (Password access)
Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy - http://www.iep.utm.edu/
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - http://plato.stanford.edu/
Class handouts Handouts will be provided.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr James Mooney
Tel: (0131 6)50 3077
Email: james.mooney@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Benjamin Mcnab
Tel: (0131 6)51 4832
Email: Benjamin.Mcnab@ed.ac.uk |
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