Course Catalogue

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A Masters level course in Epistemology which develops undergraduate level understanding of the field, including Relativism and Scepticism, towards a foundation for postgraduate research in Philosophy.

1x1hr seminar and 1x1hr lecture per week for 10 weeks. Options running in a given year are available on MyCampus.

Standard entry to Masters at College level.

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The standard assessments for this course are:

■ 1 x Essay (5000 words) - 100%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the essay, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course aims to:

• Develop students understanding of Epistemology to a level which allow them to engage with contemporary positions and arguments in the field

• Enable students to articulate and critically evaluate their own position within these contemporary issues

• Provide a foundation in this field for future engagement in original research in Philosophy

• Provide the opportunity to achieve a foundation that equips the student for research leading to a Ph.D. in the following areas:  Social Epistemology, Epistemic Relativism, Scepticism, Knowledge-How, Extended Knowledge, the Epistemology of Cognitive Enhancement

By the end of this course students will be able to:

• Explain the contemporary positions and arguments in a focused subfield of Epistemology

• Articulate arguments for and against these theories, and compare them fruitfully and critically

• Recognise and incorporate contemporary positions and arguments in Epistemology into their own developing research fields where relevant