Course Catalogue

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This course will survey and critically engage with a range of topics in contemporary virtue epistemology. Virtue epistemology is a popular and flourishing area in contemporary epistemology (roughly: the theory of knowledge) that gives intellectual virtues an important theoretical role.

16x1hr lectures; 4x1hr seminars over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

Standard entry to Masters at College level

PHIL4019- Virtue Epistemology (Hons)

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ 2 x Essay (2500 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 essays, 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:

■ Provide students with the opportunity to gain a detailed knowledge and understanding of debates in virtue epistemology, including cutting-edge debates about virtue reliabilism and virtue responsibilism.

■ Explore the place of intellectual virtues within epistemology.

■ Allow students to develop analytical and critical skills, by considering key arguments and positions, and formulating their own

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

■ Categorise and differentiate between key concepts that feature in contemporary debates about virtue epistemology.

■ Explain the reasoning the features in arguments for a virtue theoretic account of knowledge.

■ Formulate key challenges that face particular approaches and viewpoints in the virtue responsibilist and virtue reliabilist traditions.

■ Construct and evaluate arguments for and against specific theses in virtue epistemology.