Undergraduate Course: Self, Agency and the Will (PHIL10082)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course will provide an introduction to one of the most exciting debates in the interdisciplinary field between philosophy and the cognitive sciences. |
| Course description |
The course will examine the relationship between our phenomenal sense of agency and the sub-personal behavioural control layers that scientific psychology and the neurosciences describe.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Knowledge and Reality (PHIL08017) AND
Mind, Matter and Language (PHIL08014)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students studying on MA Cognitive Science (Humanities) are permitted to take this course without having met the pre-requisites of Mind, Matter and Language (PHIL08014) and Knowledge and Reality (PHIL08017). However, it is advisable that students discuss the suitability of the course with their PT and the course organizer before enrolling. |
| Additional Costs | 2A |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 Philosophy courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1500 word mid term essay (35%)
2500 word end of semester essay (60%)
Autonomous Learning Group work (5%) |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand influential views on the nature of conscious will.
- Understand influential views on the nature of mental agency.
- Interpret empirical literature for philosophical purposes.
- Demonstrate core skills in philosophy, including interpreting and critically engaging with philosophical texts, evaluating arguments and theories, and developing one's own ideas in response to the issues discussed.
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Additional Information
| Course URL |
http://www.philosophy.ed.ac.uk/ug_study/ug_honours/ug_hons_index.html |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course examines the empirical and philosophical literature on the role of consciousness for free and responsible agency. The topic demands all the typical philosophical skills like essay writing, argumentation or presentation together with some skills associated with empirical subjects ( interpreting data). Given its interdisciplinary nature it is also important to be open to different perspectives and to have the ability to translate jargon between disciplines. The material is fun but also challenging and it requires resilience and time management skills to master the demands of the course.
Core skills gained or developed on this course:
Adapting presentation or writing tone/style to audience; Being open to different perspectives; Challenging own perspectives and assumptions; Critical thinking; Critical analysis and evaluation; Data analysis and evaluation; Formulating original arguments and justifying it; Group work (delegation, influencing, conflict resolution, motivating others, taking responsibility); Independence; Oral communication (discussion, debating respectfully, influencing); Preparation, planning and organisation; Presentation skills; Problem solving; Public speaking; Academic reading skills; Research skills; Resilience; Self-reflection; Taking initiative; Time management; Understanding broader perspectives; Workload management; Written communication; Writing clearly and concisely; Interdisciplinary thinking. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Tillman Vierkant
Tel: (0131 6)51 3748
Email: T.Vierkant@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Joan MacKenzie
Tel:
Email: jmacken8@ed.ac.uk |
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