PER4023 - Introduction to Philosophy

Objectives:

Assessment tasks are designed to enable students to demonstrate the Learning and Employability outcomes for the relevant level of study. Level Learning Outcomes are embedded in the assessment task(s) at that level. This enables a more integrated view of overall student performance at each level.

Content:

This module covers selected episodes from the history of western philosophy, from Platonic to Medieval, looking at debates about (i) the soul and virtue, (ii) politics and government, and (iv) God and reality. Through consideration of such historical debates, the module introduces fundamental questions and concepts in philosophy, and the developing critical tradition that reflects upon the formulation of these questions and problems as an essential path to answering them. This module develops ideas and frameworks that will be picked up in PER5013 Mind, Self and World.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Lectures/Seminars
Hours: 48
Intended Group Size: 30

Guided independent study
Hours: 252

Further details relating to assessment
Portfolio: Students will complete FIVE 500-word critical summaries in the first half of the year. Each will be on one of the readings assigned in the first half of the module. Each summary should clearly and concisely state the main thesis and argument in the relevant reading; it should also provide (at least) one critical reflection on that reading.

Essay: Students will complete a 2500-word essay on a question of their choice. Question options will be distributed at mid-term (with the possibility of negotiating a unique question, for those who wish to write on something not included in the list provided). Students will be expected to make an argument for the answer to the question chosen. They should draw on at least one text from the module and on at least one source from their own independent research.

Integrated Assessment: students create a PowerPoint presentation on a theme agreed by the programme team relevant to the areas of philosophy, ethics and religion.

Assessment:

001 Portfoliol 2,500 words; end of semester 1 40%
002 Essay; 2.500 words; end of semester 2 40%
003 Intergrated assessment; presentation; 5 min; end of semester 2 20%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Shyane Siriwardena
Level - 4
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4YL

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