| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PHI1010 | Rationalism and Empiricism |
The above or another 20 credit stage 1 Philosophy module required
None
The aim of this module is to introduce students to the critical thought of Immanuel Kant, as expressed in the Critique of Pure Reason; to develop a clear sense of his approach to epistemology, and to understand his philosophy in the context of the history of ideas and the problems of philosophy with which he was faced, especially those of empiricism and rationalism.
- Students will focus on key ideas in Kant’s major theoretical work;
- Students will explore how Kant’s ideas were responding to problems in the recent history of philosophy as well as setting the scene for subsequent developments in European philosophy;
- Students will explore the meaning of the terms with which the Critique of Pure Reason operates, such as dogmatic metaphysics, critique, sensibility, understanding, reason, etc.
Students will:
- Become acquainted with the principal concepts of Kant's critical philosophy;
- Understand something of the nature of the different faculties whose functions Kant delineates;
- Understand the contributions Kant’s major work made to European philosophy.
Students will:
- Learn to engage with philosophical concepts and materials in a detailed and technical manner;
- Learn something of the importance of the history of European philosophy and its most decisive moments for philosophy as a whole;
- Learn a new method of thinking and a critical awareness of the limits of our previous conceptions of what it means to think and to know.
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 20:00 | 20:00 | Essay preparation and completion |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured research and reading activities | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Specific research or reading activities developed and directed by academic staff |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 10 | 1:00 | 10:00 | Tutorials |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 50:00 | 50:00 | Review lecture material, prepare for small group teaching and assessment |
| Total | 100:00 |
This module introduces central themes in later modern philosophy and constitutes a background for PHI2002 and potentially, should students opt to do it, PHI2020. Lectures provide students with a systematic account of milestones in the development of modern concepts of knowledge. Students are given a structured reading list and lecture notes. These topics are developed further and discussed in seminars.
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | A | 90 | 2000 word essay |
| Prof skill assessmnt | 1 | A | 10 | Seminar attendance will receive a mark |
The essay tests the ability to think coherently, critically and independently, as well as managing one’s own work to set time limits. This assessment method also gauges the students’ ability to move between generalisation and appropriately detailed discussion, and to cite relevant primary and secondary texts and interpret them adequately.
The assessment scheme which the students are given and which is explained at the start of the module shows clearly how the mark emerges out of expected competences and their link to specialist knowledge. The student is expected to recognise key epistemological concepts of the modern era, to be able to position them in the context chosen for the essay and as they are supported by the references to the primary and secondary literature or application niche.
Original Handbook text:
Disclaimer: The information contained within the Module Catalogue relates to the 2022/23 academic year. In accordance with University Terms and Conditions, the University makes all reasonable efforts to deliver the modules as described. Modules may be amended on an annual basis to take account of changing staff expertise, developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Module information for the 2023/24 entry will be published here in early-April 2023. Queries about information in the Module Catalogue should in the first instance be addressed to your School Office.