THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

University Homepage
DRPS Homepage
DRPS Search
DRPS Contact
DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences : Philosophy

Postgraduate Course: Advanced Epistemology (Online) (PHIL11136)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate)
Course typeOnline Distance Learning AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryAs the central issues are discussed we will consider the appropriate methodology for doing so as well as the relationship between epistemology and a broader set of social issues.

Please note auditing is not allowed on this course. Students must only take for credit.
Course description The course will cover the following topics:

Epistemology of testimony:
What is the epistemic status of belief generated by accepting testimony? Under what conditions is testimonial knowledge defeated? How does the epistemology of testimony relate to classical epistemological discussions such as the internalism-externalism debate?

Epistemology of disagreement and diversity:
What is an epistemic peer? What is the epistemically rational response to epistemic peer disagreement? What is the difference between epistemic disagreement and epistemic diversity? Is epistemic diversity epistemically beneficial?

Epistemic injustice:
What are the distinctively epistemic forms of injustice? How do epistemologies of race and gender contribute to the understanding of epistemic injustice? How do issues concerning epistemic injustice relate to the issues pertaining to testimony, disagreement and diversity?
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Students MUST have passed: Epistemology (Online) (PHIL11131)
Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Students must have passed Epistemology (PHIL11131) or equivalent during their previous studies at another institution before taking this course.
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesNone
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2020/21, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 2
Course Start Date 11/01/2021
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Lecture Hours 22, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 174 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Students are assessed by a 3000 word essay at the end of the semester (85%) and successful participation in the on-line activities associated with the course (15%). How the participation component will be assessed will be made clear to the students at the start of the course.
Feedback Students have the opportunity to submit a formative essay. The essay cannot be draft of the summative essay but it can be on the same topic.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. articulate central issues, views and concepts in social epistemology.
  2. critically analyse and engage with the contemporary literature in epistemology and connect it to broader social issues.
  3. present arguments clearly and concisely both within a classroom and in a 2,500 word essay.
  4. acquire transferable skills in research, analysis and argumentation.
  5. critically discuss philosophical arguments with peers.
Reading List
Available through Talis aspire
http://resourcelists.ed.ac.uk/index.html

Indicative reading list:
The following list contains examples of the kinds of readings that may be set for this course.

Testimony:
Fricker, Elizabeth (1994). Against Gullibility. Chap. 58 in Epistemology - An anthology, 2nd edition, (Eds. Sosa, Kim, Fantl & McGrath). Wiley Blackwell

Lackey, Jennifer (2006). Learning from words. Philosophy and Phenomenological Research 73 (1):77-101.*

Goldman, Alvin I. (2001). Experts: Which Ones Should You trust? Philosophy and Phenomenological Research, 63, (1): 85-110.

Disagreement and Diversity:

Christensen, David (2007). Epistemology of disagreement: The good news. Philosophical Review 116 (2):187-217.

Jennifer Lackey (2008). A justificationist view of disagreement's epistemic significance. In A. Millar A. Haddock & D. Pritchard (eds.), Social Epistemology. OUP: 145-154.

Goldman, Alvin. (2010). Epistemic Relativism and Reasonable Disagreement. In Feldman and Warfield (eds.), Disagreement (Oxford: Oxford University Press).

Christensen, David (2014). Disagreement and Public Controversy. In Jennifer Lackey (ed.), Essays in Collective Epistemology. Oxford University Press

Epistemic Injustice and the Epistemology of Race and Gender:

Maitra, Ishani (2010). The nature of epistemic injustice. Philosophical Books 51 (4):195-211.

Fricker, Miranda (2013). Epistemic justice as a condition of political freedom? Synthese 190 (7): 1317-1332.

Dotson, Kristie (2011). Tracking Epistemic Violence, Tracking Practices of Silencing. Hypatia 26 (2): 236-257.

Michaelian, Kourken (2008). Privileged standpoints/ reliable processes. Hypatia 23 (1):65-98.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Students can develop their ability for independent learning through online resources.
KeywordsEpistemology
Contacts
Course organiserDr Wolfgang Schwarz
Tel:
Email: Wolfgang.Schwarz@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMs Becky Verdon
Tel: (0131 6)50 3860
Email: Rebecca.Verdon@ed.ac.uk
Navigation
Help & Information
Home
Introduction
Glossary
Search DPTs and Courses
Regulations
Regulations
Degree Programmes
Introduction
Browse DPTs
Courses
Introduction
Humanities and Social Science
Science and Engineering
Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Other Information
Combined Course Timetable
Prospectuses
Important Information