Undergraduate Course: Metaphysics (PHIL10155)
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 3 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This module will offer students critical engagement with selected central topics in Metaphysics through the careful study and discussion of seminal articles in the area. Students will be expected to engage critically with the main arguments of the selected texts, and articulate their own views of the relative strengths and weaknesses of the arguments presented. |
| Course description |
This course will examine some central issues in metaphysics, each relating - in some way or other - to time and the temporal. We will examine topics in three main areas:
1. The nature of time and its apparent passing;
2. Thinking of change and persistence through time, by thinking about personal identity and persistence over time; and
3. Thinking about the ontology of processes, events, and states, as ways of existing in and through time.
Throughout the course, we will also be paying close attention to methodological issues in metaphysics and how promising - or not - we might take such approaches to these topics.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Mind, Matter and Language (PHIL08014) AND
Knowledge and Reality (PHIL08017)
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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 and Knowledge and Reality. However, it is advisable that students discuss the suitability of the course with their PT and the course organiser before enrolling. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have completed at least 3 Philosophy courses at grade B. or above. We will only consider University/College level courses. Applicants should note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission. **Please note that 3rd year Philosophy courses are high-demand, meaning that they have a very high number of students wishing to enrol in a very limited number of spaces.** These enrolments are managed strictly by the Visiting Student Office, in line with the quotas allocated by the department, and all enquiries to enrol in these courses must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. It is not appropriate for students to contact the department directly to request additional spaces. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 32,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
164 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Mid-Term Essay 40% (1,500 words)
Final Essay 60% (2,500 words) |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate core skills in philosophy, including the ability to interpret and engage with philosophical texts, to evaluate arguments, and to develop one's own critical ideas in response.
- Acquire an understanding of some of the central problems in metaphysics and of leading approaches to resolving them.
- Analyse these problems and the strengths and weakness of various approaches made to resolving them.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
In this course, in addition to gaining topic-specific knowledge, students will learn the following skills in the following ways. Through seminars, tutorials and readings, they will learn how to critically read and analyse difficult texts; how to look for the wider context; how to evaluate arguments for and against viewpoints; how to articulate clear and persuasive arguments; how to be open to and engage with challenges and views they may disagree with. Through the assessments, students will learn how to write clear and structured arguments; how to show an understanding of the material; how to do research; how to manage time and workload.
Core skills gained or developed on this course:
Critical analysis and evaluation; Critical thinking; Formulating original arguments and justifying it; Oral communication (discussion, debating respectfully, influencing); Preparation, planning and organisation; Problem solving; Academic reading skills; Research skills; Self-reflection; Time management; Written communication; Writing clearly and concisely; How to incorporate multi-disciplinary research into philosophy. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Jack Shardlow
Tel:
Email: jshardlo@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Susan Hermiston
Tel: (0131 6)50 3440
Email: Susan.Hermiston@ed.ac.uk |
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