MA Philosophy / Course details

This course is concerned with evaluating certain methods and forms of argument distinctive to philosophy. The course provides the opportunity to test out these methods and patterns of argument. We will be concerned with such questions as: How are they supposed to work? How well do they work? What are their advantages? What are their flaws? The topics to be discussed are: the appeal to common sense; simplicity; explanatory power; philosophical analysis; the appeal to best science; intuitions; and thought experiments.

- to help students to understand and evaluate some key philosophical methods
- to identify where those methods have been used in central philosophical views
- to help students develop their own views on these and other philosophical methods.

Intended Learning Outcomes:
On completion of this unit successful students will be able to demonstrate:

- Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a range of relevant published philosophical work;
- Understand, articulate and critically evaluate some of the relevant philosophical methods and techniques;
- Develop their own views on the philosophical issues covered in the course;
- Articulate their own views and arguments clearly and concisely, in both written and oral presentations.

Key Transferable Skills:
On successful completion of this course unit, participants should have developed:
- Problem solving skills.
- Analytic and critical skills.
- The ability to argue from evidence.
- The ability to communicate ideas effectively.
- The ability to set appropriate goals and to work independently and/or cooperatively.

Teaching will be seminar-based with a two hour seminar each week over seven weeks. A student will introduce each week's topic by giving a presentation on it. There will also be an initial one hour meeting in which the convenor will present an overview of the course and its topics, and a final meeting of one hour.

1 x Assessed Essay 3000 words 100%

Chris Daly Introduction to Philosophical Methods (Broadview Press, 2010).