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Introduction to Philosophical Methods

Module description

This module will provide you with an introduction to the different methods pursued in philosophical research. It will also introduce you to the distinctive character of philosophical research at Exeter, especially its interdisciplinarity. Typical methods covered might include: conceptual analysis, naturalism, phenomenology, genealogy, experimental philosophy, historical, sociological and ethnographic approaches. You will learn to reflect critically on these different methods and explore their respective strengths and weaknesses. The module will equip you with a range of different tools for approaching philosophical questions and provide an excellent grounding for further research in philosophy.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module aims to introduce you to a range of different philosophical methods. It also aims to encourage you to engage critically with those methods and learn how to apply these methods in your own research.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

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

• 1. Understand a range of different methods for approaching philosophical problems
• 2. Analyse and evaluate those methods in a rigorous, informed and critical way
• 3. Learn to employ a range of different methods in your own philosophical work

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

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

• 4. Appreciate the diversity of different methods used in philosophical research
• 5. Critically and rigorously evaluate a range of different philosophical styles and approaches
• 6. Reflect critically upon the relationship between philosophy and other disciplines

ILO: Personal and key skills

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

• 7. Engage in complex arguments verbally and in small groups
• 8. Critically engage with written texts in a clear and rigorous way
• 9. Present complex ideas to peers and respond to questions in a clear and respectful manner

Syllabus plan

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

• Conceptual analysis
• Naturalism
• Phenomenology
• Genealogy
• Experimental philosophy
• Historical, sociological and ethnographic approaches

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

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

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

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Cappelen, H., Gendler, T. S., & Hawthorne, J. (eds.) (2016). The Oxford Handbook of Philosophical Methodology. Oxford University Press.

Daly, C. (2010). An Introduction to Philosophical Methods. Broadview Press.

Haug, M. (2014). Philosophical Methodology: The Armchair or the Laboratory? Routledge.

Merleau-Ponty, M. (1962). The Phenomenology of Perception. Routledge. (1^st published 1945)

Knobe, J. & Nicholds, S. (2008). Experimental Philosophy. Oxford University Press.

Kuhn, T. S. (1970). The Structure of Scientific Revolutions. Chicago University Press. (1^st edition 1962)

Ryle, G. (1949). The Concept of Mind. Penguin.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://www.rep.routledge.com/ 

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato.stanford.edu

Key words search

Philosophical methods