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Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
79
Philosophy
COURSE CODES:
PLACES 2011:
POINTS 2010:
DEGREE AWARDED:
TR005
17
430
B.A.
TR001 (TSM)
43
425*-570
TSM points:
See note on page 28
Philosophy may be studied as a single honor course
(TR005), within the Two Subject Moderatorship
programme (TR001) and in the Philosophy, political
science, economics and sociology (TR015) programme.
In TR005 Philosophy is studied for four years.
TR001 (TSM) Philosophy cannot be studied as a single
honor course. It must be combined with one other subject
within the two-subject moderatorship (TSM) programme.
TSM is a joint honor programme. An honors degree is
awarded in both subjects. See page 92 for a list of the
subjects with which Philosophy may be combined.
In TR015 it is possible to study philosophy for the entire
four-year degree programme or for a shorter period, see
page 80.
What is Philosophy?
Philosophy is the discipline concerned with the questions of how
one should live (ethics); what sorts of things exist and what are
their essential natures (metaphysics); what counts as genuine
knowledge (epistemology); what existence is and what it means
to be (ontology); and what are the correct principles of reasoning
(logic). It is generally agreed that philosophy is a method, rather
than a set of claims, propositions, or theories. Its investigations
are, unlike those of religion or superstition, wedded to reason,
making no unexamined assumptions and no leaps based purely
on analogy, revelation, or authority. In Greek, “philosophy”
means “love of wisdom.” Philosophy is based on rational
argument and appeal to facts. The questions addressed by
philosophy remain the most general and most basic, the issues
that underlie the sciences and stand at the base of a world-view.
Course overview
In all cases the purpose of the Philosophy course is to give you
a solid, scholarly grounding in the classical texts that form the
history of Western philosophy, and are one of the formative
influences on Western culture. Studying the fundamentals of
both formal and informal reasoning will enable you to think
independently.
Is this the right course for you?
If you are interested in questioning society’s basic assumptions
and in analysing the moral, political, aesthetic and religious
questions lying at the heart of our culture in an articulate manner
you will find this a stimulating and challenging course.
Course content
The Freshman years
In the first two years, called Junior Freshman and Senior
Freshman, you will study foundation courses in the history
of philosophy, as well as engage with certain fundamental
philosophical problems such as the debates about free will
and determinism, the nature of morality, the nature of language,
the existence of God, logic, and the scope and limits of human
knowledge.
In the TSM programmes where philosophy is studied with
another subject there are approximately five hours of classes
per week; with double that for the single honor programme.
The Sophister years
In the final two years, called Junior Sophister and Senior
Sophister, you are able to set your own syllabus by selecting
courses from a reasonably wide choice including political
philosophy, ethics, philosophy of religion, and philosophy of
mind, among others. In this way you can specialise in the areas
of philosophy you have found most interesting and most suitable
to your skills.
Assessment
Assessment is by means of both essays and formal
examinations with equal importance given to both. In the Senior
Sophister year, you will research and write a dissertation.
Career opportunities
In the recent past graduates of Philosophy have worked in areas
as diverse as accountancy, academic teaching, journalism, law,
T.V. reporting and research, film making, banking, computing
and advertising. Each year some graduates also opt to pursue
a research career beginning with postgraduate study in Ireland
or abroad.
Did you know?
n
George Berkeley (1685-1753), who has a permanent
place in any list of the great philosophers, attended
Trinity College. In addition, the political philosopher,
Edmund Burke (1729-1797), inaugurated the College
debating society while still a student at Trinity College.
n
Trinity College is the only university in Ireland where
philosophy can be taken as a degree course on its
own.
Further information
www.tcd.ie/Philosophy/teaching/undergrad.php
Tel: +353 1 896 1529