Topics in Philosophy I
Module Code: PI1003
Module Name: Topics in Philosophy I
- ECTS Weighting: 15
- Semester/Term Taught: Michaelmas + Hilary Term
- Contact Hours: 44 hours of lecture and 11 hours of tutorial
- Module Personnel: Lecturers – Dr. Niall Connolly (email), Dr. John William Devine (email), Dr. Brendan O'Byrne (email), Dr. Stefan Storrie (email),
Learning Outcomes
Having successfully completed this module, students will be able to:
- identify and critically evaluate different theories regarding the metaphysics of persons, change, time, free will and the status of properties;
- identify and critically evaluate different theories of political legitimacy;
- identify and critically evaluate sceptical strategies and arguments and the various responses to them.
Module Content
This is a problems–based course, composed of the following components:
Component 1: Metaphysics – Dr. Niall Connolly (email)
Metaphysics investigates the fundamental nature of reality. This introductory course focuses first on metaphysical questions concerning persons and their place in the world: the problems of personal identity and free will. What is a person and what is it for a person to be the same person over time? And are person free in a way that makes them responsible for the things they do, or are they part of a deterministic world in which such freedom is only an illusion? The second part of the course considers the baffling problem of properties: Is the shape of an object an item over and above the object itself? Is the shape of one object and the shape of a similar–shaped object the same item?
Component 2: Political Authority – Dr. John William Devine (email)
This course addresses perhaps the fundamental question of political philosophy: when, if ever, is political authority legitimate? States issue a variety of commands to citizens, concerning issues as diverse as taxes, child rearing and military service. Do states have a right to rule? Do citizens have an obligation to obey? We will begin by outlining the anarchist challenge to the possibility of legitimate political authority. We then move to consider the variety of responses to the anarchist challenge aimed at justifying the state. Thirdly and finally, we examine whether, even if the state is legitimate, is it ever permissible to disobey the state's commands, that is, is civil disobedience ever justified?
Component 3: Scepticism – Dr. Brendan O'Byrne (email)
Scepticism names a group of stratgies and arguments which raise and explore rational doubts about our knowledge and belief claims and even about our faculties. In this component we will look at the most influential and important of these; for example, external world scepticism, doubts about the existence of other minds and even the various arguments that throw doubt on the power of our rational and sensible faculties to attain knowledge or even just reliable belif. We shall consider some important varieties of scepticism – the practical kind, associated with Pyrrhonic scepticism, which aims at a way of life, and the theoretical, or purely epistemological kind, associated with Descartes and others, where sceptical arguments are designed to help lead us to certainty. We will also examine various responses to scepticism; how do they work and are they successful?
Component 4: Metaethics – Stefan Storrie (email)
Metaethics seeks to understand the nature of ethical properties, statements, attitudes, and judgments. Unlike moral theory, metaethics attempts to step back from particular substantive debates within morality to ask about the views, assumptions, and commitments that are shared by those who engage in the debate. Some issues that will be raised in the course are: What does moral language mean? Do moral facts exist? If so, what are they like, and are they reducible to natural facts? Is there a connection between making a moral judgment and being motivated to abide by it?
Assessment Details
Students will be required to submit two essays for this component, comprising 50% of the overall grade. The annual examination accounts for 50% of the overall grade.