Philosophical Studies: Cosmos and European Traditions

What can I know? What is in the Cosmos? Answers to such questions, the systems of thought and cosmologies humans have developed depend on our concept of nature and rationality. Newtonian science installed in the 17th Century a radically new order of things only to find itself superseded by a very different notion of nature which emerged in the 20th Century out of post-Einsteinian physics and philosophy. This development has led to a number of startling revelations which undermine some of our most treasured certainties. Is it really true that the Universe was created out of nothing? What then is "reality" and what is meant by representing reality in cosmology, politics, arts? Can life be reduced to reason? Are human minds just sophisticated computers and can a computer be a poet?

Philosophical Studies modules are available in the first, second and third years. They are tailored for students of human sciences and arts. We do NOT assume any knowledge of physics or mathematics beyond GCSE. All lecture courses are free-standing so that, for example, a second year lecture course can be taken by students who did not attend any of the first year courses. The set of modules described here form part of a single honours BA course in Philosophical Studies: Knowledge and Human Interests and are also offered under the Combined Honours Programme at this university.

Current students can access further information, syllabi and reading lists in the Module Outline Form Database.

STAGE 1

MODULE CODE SEMESTER CREDITS DESCRIPTIVE TITLE
PHI1001 1/2 20 European Philosophical Traditions
PHI1002 1/2 20 Selected Texts in Philosophy
PHI1006 1 10 Our View of the Universe
PHI1007 2 10 Faith, Reason and the Cosmos
PHI1008 1 10 Project (based on PHI1006)
PHI1009 2 10 Project (based on PHI1007)

STAGE 2

MODULE CODE SEMESTER CREDITS DESCRIPTIVE TITLE
PHI2001 1 10 Knowledge and Human Interests
PHI2002 1 10 Cultural Contradictions of Scientific Rationality
PHI2003 1/2 20 Modern Philosophy I: Ethical Thought
PHI2005 1/2 20 Consciousness, Art and Technology
PHI2006 1/2 20 Ethics of the Natural and Human Environment
PHI2009 1/2 20 The Living Universe
PHI2010 2 20 Dissertation (based on PHI2001 or PHI2002)
PHI2011 2 10 Project (based on PHI2009)
PHI2012 2 20 Dissertation (based on PHI2009)

STAGE 3

MODULE CODE SEMESTER CREDITS DESCRIPTIVE TITLE
PHI3001 1 10 Signs of the Times I
PHI3002 2 10 Signs of the Times II
PHI3003 1/2 20 Modern Philosophy II: Language and Thought
PHI3005 1/2 20 Knowledge, Power and Desire
PHI3006 1/2 20 The Networked Society
PHI3007 1 10 Cosmology Today
PHI3008 2 10 Project (based on PHI3007)
PHI3009 2 20 Dissertation (based on PHI3007)
PHI3010 2 20 Dissertation (based on PHI3001 or PHI3002)

Useful links

Combined Honours Centre

Contact

For further information contact Julie Coomber on 0191 222 7302