Metaphysics
| Module title | Metaphysics |
|---|---|
| Module code | PHL2016 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Adrian Currie (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 70 |
|---|
Module description
Metaphysics has been concerned with philosophy’s most fundamental questions and traditionally was thought of as drawing upon distinctively philosophical methods to answer questions that the sciences could not answer. For much of the 20th century “metaphysics” was seen as an outdated and moribund pursuit by philosophers who believed that philosophy lacks any distinctive knowledge-begetting methods of its own. By the turn of the 21st century however, metaphysics had rebounded to become the fastest growing sector within philosophy. The module will provide you with an in depth study of the meaning of 'metaphysics', basic concepts of metaphysics and the nature of metaphysical inquiry into a variety of contemporary problems.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to introduce you to the place of metaphysics in the history of philosophy, to the challenges associated with the practice of metaphysics in contemporary thinking and with the principal problems that are presently addressed under the heading of metaphysics. You will become well versed in the nature of these problems and how one goes about addressing them from ‘analytic’, ‘naturalistic’ and ‘critical’ points of view.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. articulate an understanding of the meaning of metapyhysics, the place of metaphysics in philosophy, various philosophical challenges to the status of metaphysics, and a familiarity with some range of particular topics in metaphysics and the reasons why they have merited philosophical attention;
- 2. analyze the metaphysical presuppositions of truth claims;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. expose and explore the metaphysical presuppositions at play in other areas of philosophy;
- 4. begin to consolidate philosophical concepts from other modules and begin to convey a sense of the unity of philosophy as a discipline;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 5. begin to identify the substantive presuppositions of worldly truth claims beyond philosophy; and
- 6. write coherently and cogently about the conceptual context of real-world beliefs.
Syllabus plan
After an initial introductory overview the module will proceed to consider the following basic philosophical topics:
- Causation
- Identity
- Emergence
- Supervenience
- Personal Identity
- Time
- Material and Abstract Objects
- Properties
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 27.5 | 122.5 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 27.5 | 11 x 2.5 hours per week comprising of lectures and seminars |
| Guided Independent Study | 33 | Assigned readings associated with each lecture |
| Guided Independent Study | 10 | Preparation for class discussion |
| Guided Independent Study | 35 | Preparation of Assigned Essay |
| Guided Independent Study | 44.5 | Exam Revision and Private Study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay Plan | 250 words | 1-6 | Written |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 50 | 1 hour | 1-6 | Written |
| Essay | 50 | 1500 words | 1-6 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | Examination (1 hour) | 1-6 | August/September reassessment Period |
| Essay | Essay (1500 words) | 1-6 | August/September reassessment Period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Core Reading:
The core reading for the course is Kim &Sosa (eds): Metaphysics: An Anthology (1999). This includes almost all of the key readings for the course and I recommend that you purchase a copy. Also, the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, which is free and online, contains many useful entries whichwill give you an appropriate grounding in each topic, but should not be used as a replacement for key readings. I will recommend additional readings in class.
1 Introduction -what the course is about, structure of teaching and assessment.
2 Existence
Reading:
W.V. Quine (1948): 'On What There Is'; Review of Metaphysics.
(In Kim &Sosa; and here: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/On_What_There_Is)
3 Realism and Anti-Realism
Reading:
M. Dummett (1982): 'Realism'; Synthese, 52, pp55-112.
(In Kim & Sosa).
4 Supervenience and Emergence
Reading:
J. Kim (1999): 'Making Sense of Emergence'; Philosophical Studies, 95
J. Kim (1990): 'Supervenience as a Philosophical Concept'; Metaphilosophy, 21
(In Kim & Sosa).
5 Identity over time
Reading:
R.Chisholm (1976): 'Identity Through Time'; originally published in his Person & Object.
W.V. Quine (1953): 'Identity, Ostension, and Hypostasis'; originally published in his From a Logical Point of View.
(Both in Kim & Sosa).
6 Persons and persistence
Reading:
D. Parfit (1971): 'Personal Identity'; Philosophical Review, 80
(In Kim &Sosa)
E. Olson (2007): 'What are We?' Journal of consciousness studies.
(and here: http://www.shef.ac.uk/content/1/c6/03/49/16/WAWpaper.pdf)
7 Causation
Reading:
J.L. Mackie (1965): 'Causes and Conditions'; American Philosophical Quarterly, 5
D. Lewis (1973): 'Causation'; Journal of Philosophy, 70
(Both in Kim & Sosa).
8 Mental Causation
Reading:
L. R. Baker (1993): 'Metaphysics and Mental Causation'; in Heil & Mele. (eds), 1993: Mental Causation; Oxford. (other entries in this volume are extremely good, too).
Block, N. (2003) 'Do Causal Powers Drain Away?'; Philosophy and Phenomenological Research
(http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/dept/philo/faculty/block/papers/CausalPowers.pdf)
9 Abstract and Puzzling Entities
Reading:
R. Sorensen (1999): 'Seeing Intersecting Eclipses'; The Journal of Philosophy, 96
R. Sorensen (2008): Seeing Dark Things. The Philosophy of Shadows,Oxford: OUP
G. Bealer (1993): 'Universals'; Journal of Philosophy, 90
10 Modality and Possible Worlds
Reading:
A. Plantinga (1974): 'Modalities: Basic Concepts and Distinctions; in his The Nature of Necessity, Oxford.
D. Lewis (1986): 'Counterparts or Double Lives?'; in his On the Plurality of Worlds, Oxford.
(Both in Kim & Sosa).
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
Lectures and Powerpoints will be available on ELE
| 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 | 10/02/2012 |
| Last revision date | 18/03/2022 |
