TRS6342 - The Future of Philosophy & The Philosophy of the Future

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate detailed knowledge of the various positions adopted by contemporary philosophers;
Demonstrate ability to engage critically with contemporary philosophical questions utilising a range of philosophical concepts and positions, with the aim of constructing new ideas and approaches;
Demonstrate knowledge of how recent cultural and technological developments have been identified as significant by philosophers;
Develop appropriate skills for discussing and engaging with contemporary issues in a variety of media and interdisciplinary context;
Demonstrate ability to analyse, construct and defend philosophical arguments and positions.

Content:

The module engages with debates in contemporary philosophy, particularly the current status of the discipline and how it might develop in the future.
The two main areas considered will be metaphilosophical debates relating to the nature, value and status of philosophy and the impact of cultural paradigm shifts on philosophical thought.
The first area will entail an analysis of dominant philosophical theories and positions, including critical theory (e.g. Adorno), postmodern and poststructural theory (e.g. Baudrillard, Lyotard, Foucault, Derrida, Deleuze) and attempts to reconstruct the philosophical enterprise (e.g Habermas, Zizek and analytical responses).
The second area will cover key intersections between philosophy and contemporary society, such as scientific investigation, globalisation and the awareness of diversity, philosophical ideology critique, postmodern society and technological developments, such as the impact of information technology and film on philosophical thought.
Throughout the module, the interdisciplinary nature and global context of contemporary philosophy will be emphasised and developed.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Each session will consist of a 1 hour lecture and 1 hour seminar in which preparatory reading and other material will be discussed.

Lecture
Contact hours: 20

Seminar, group work, tutorial, etc
Hours: 20

Guided Independent Learning
Hours: 160

Further details relating to assessment
The portfolio will consist of 6 portfolio entries, each of 300-400 words in length (not to exceed the maximum allowed in the final submission). These will be assessed throughout the module, with a submission due approximately every two weeks, and submitted together as a pack at the end of the module.