Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

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Co Requisite Comment

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Aims

The first part of this module is intended to introduce the very foundations of Western Philosophy as it emerged in the ancient world, around the Mediterranean sea, and in particular to lead the student through the pre-history of philosophy’s formation as a discipline, up to the moment at which it is first properly established in a corpus that has survived, with Plato’s and Aristotle’s writings. A foundation in Ancient Greek thought is essential for almost all of the philosophy that will come later, and hence must take place at the earliest possible moment in the course.

Depending on staff interests, this module could also include Non-Western Philosophy from an analogous period. But in the first place, this module is intended to introduce the foundations of Western Philosophy as it emerged in the ancient world, around the Mediterranean sea, and in particular to lead the student through the pre-history of philosophy’s formation as a discipline, up to the moment at which it is first properly established in all its subdisciplines in a corpus that has been handed down to us, with Aristotle’s writings.

A foundation in Ancient Greek thought is essential for almost all of the philosophy that will come later, and hence must take place at the earliest possible moment in the course.

The second part of this module aims to introduce students to some of the key debates in epistemology (theory of knowledge). Students will be introduced to and encouraged to reflect upon some of the central ideas and conceptual systems from the Modern Age. The module will be centred upon the debate between rationalism and empiricism, engaged in by such figures as David Hume and John Locke on the side of empiricism, Descartes, Spinoza, and Leibniz on the side of rationalism.

Outline Of Syllabus

Topics covered within the module could include:

- an introduction to the thought of the Pre-Socratic Greek philosophers, from Thales to Parmenides, paving the way for the accounts of the life and work of Socrates in the work of Plato and Xenophon. It will consider various later accounts of the origins of philosophy itself in the work of Nietzsche on the Tragic Age of the Greeks, and Hegel’s Lectures on the History of Philosophy, as well, perhaps as Heidegger’s entirely novel readings of the Pre-Socratics.

- an approach to the logical, metaphysical and physical aspects of Aristotle’s philosophy, particularly with regard to causation, potentiality, substance, and the nature of the proposition/judgement.

- the later Hellenic schools of Cynicism, Stoicism, Epicureanism, and Scepticism, as well as an account of the later moments of classical philosophy in the Neo-Platonist school, that will take us right up to the mediaeval thought that is sometimes covered by the Philosophy and Religion module.

Students will cover some key thinkers associated with rationalism and empiricism, including but not limited to:

-       Descartes

-       Spinoza

-       Leibniz

-       Locke

-       Berkeley

-       Hume

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

- To become acquainted with the foundations of Western thought through Plato, Aristotle, and related thinkers from the ancient world

- To be cognisant of many of the foundational problems, concepts, positions, terms, and schools within Ancient Greek philosophy

- To be able to define ‘philosophy’ as it came to be understood at the moment of its inception.

- To acquire a basic knowledge of the most basic Greek terminology that, at least via its Latin translation, still shapes philosophical language today.

- To be aware of the later developments of Philosophy in the ancient world, while developing to a more advanced level their knowledge of the earlier.

- To be acquainted with the later developments of Western and non-Western thought, beginning with Aristotle, and moving into other areas of Classical Antiquity, with the possibility that this might involve non-Western thinkers and schools.

- To be able to define ‘philosophy’ as it came to be understood at the moment of its inception.

- To acquire a basic knowledge of the most basic Greek terminology that, at least via its Latin translation, still shapes philosophical language today.

Intended Skill Outcomes

By the end of the module, student will have gained:

- the ability to read Ancient Greek texts, in translation, and to be able to speak eloquently regarding the origination of philosophy, in the Pre-Socratics, Socrates and Plato.

- the ability to speak and write articulately and formally about the foundations of the discipline of philosophy

- the conceptual framework which will allow them to make sense of a good proportion of the rest of the modules they will study at University

- the ability to distinguish the principal schools of philosophy (for instance, rationalism and empiricism) in their most basic, most original forms.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures introduce central themes in European philosophy and provide an introduction to basic concepts and techniques in Existentialism. General study skills are to be taught in seminars, in particular skill in hermeneutically engaging with philosophical texts. Reading and reflecting on books and articles will take place in private study

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Each essay tests the ability to think creatively, self-critically and independently, managing one’s own work to time limits. Students will be assessed on their knowledge of key topics in Existentialism. They will be assessed on their skill to sensitively interpret texts drawn from a variety of ages and traditions.

General Notes

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