The Philosophy of Nature 1

Module title	The Philosophy of Nature 1
Module code	PHL2011A
Academic year	2023/4
Credits	15
Module staff	Dr Celso Alves Neto (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks		11

Number students taking module (anticipated)	50

Module description

What is Nature? How do (should) humans relate to it? This module introduces you to these and other central issues in the philosophy of nature. The relation between humans and the natural world is examined from different perspectives, including Darwinism and non-Western philosophy. The module provides a historical reconstruction of these traditions and discusses their ethical implications for our (human) actions today. Students with an interest in philosophy of science will enjoy this module in particular, but it also speaks to those who have interdisciplinary interests in the ethical and ideological appeals to nature in Western and Non-Western culture.

Module aims - intentions of the module

Philosophy began as a 'philosophy of nature' with the cosmological metaphysics of Presocratic thinkers such as Thales and Heraclitus. Modern Science was born of a revolution in the metaphysics of nature and Modern Philosophy can be conceived as a response to this revolution. The self-understanding of what it means to be human (i.e., of human nature) with all its moral, practical and theoretical implications, has been variable with very different understandings of the relationship of humans to nature. This module aims to improve your understanding of 'the philosophy of nature' as a fundamental philosophical concern by providing an overarching critical reconstruction of the different phases of Western and Non-Western understandings of nature. It also aims to introduce you to political and normative implications of philosophical understandings of nature 'nature', and invites you to reflect on your own presuppositions in dealing with the natural world.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

1. understand the basic concepts and problems in the philosophy of nature past and present;
2. philosophically analyse the ways in which these problems have been addressed by past and contemporary philosophers;
3. know how to critically analyse concepts and arguments that make reference to nature, and how to expose their ethical and ideological foundations;

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

4. make explicit underlying assumptions about nature that are often uncritically presupposed in other areas of philosophy, the sciences and the humanities;
5. assess how concepts such as 'nature' change over time and across cultures, and reflect on the reasons for such changes;

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

6. develop ideas and construct arguments and critically evaluate the ideas and arguments of others;
7. question received wisdom;
8. critically examine texts, and to write cogent and convincing essays.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:

Nature in Ancient Greek: Substance, Essence, and Teleology

Mechanicism, Vitalism, and Organicism

Substance versus Process Ontology

The Darwinian View of Nature: Design, Essence, and Teleology Reconsidered

Human Nature

Human Minds and the Physical World: Agency, Causation, and Materialism

Nature, Ecology, and Feminism

Nature in Non-Western Philosophy: Asian, African, and Native-American Perspectives

The Gaia Hypothesis

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	128	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity	22	Weekly 2-hour lectures/seminars or 1 hour lecture + 1 hour seminar
Guided independent study	28	Preparation for essay, library, research etc.
Guided independent study	100
		Private study: Reading books and articles, and taking notes from them, as specified in reading lists for each seminar. Guidance on this will be provided through ELE and in the seminars.

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Draft Essay Plan	500 words	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	Oral

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
50	50	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Essay	50	1,800 words	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	Written
Examination	50	1 hour	1, 2	Written
	0
	0
	0
	0

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Essay	Essay (1,800 words)	3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	August/September reassessment period
Examination	Examination (1 hour)	1, 2	August/September reassessment period

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Coates, P. (1998) Nature: Western Attitudes since Ancient Times
Koyré, A. (1957) From the Closed World to the Infinite Universe
Merchant, C. (1980) The Death of Nature: Women, Ecology, and the Scientific Revolution
Sterelny, K. and Griffiths, P. E. (1999) Sex and Death
Collingwood, R.G. (1945). The Idea of Nature
Dear, P. (2006) The Intelligibility of Nature: How Science Makes Sense of the World

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Lecture notes and reading lists are made available through ELE.

Key words search

Philosophy, Nature, Cosmology, Scientific Revolution, Ecology, Plato, Aristotle, Darwinism, Gaia

Credit value	15
Module ECTS	7.5
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	5
Available as distance learning?	No
Origin date	2007
Last revision date	05/01/2022