This course will introduce students to core philosophical issues concerning the nature of reality. We will explore core issues in formal logic, metaphysics, philosophy of religion and philosophy of science, focussing on the questions of what kinds of things can be said to exist.

Lectures: selected Monday, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 12.00-13.00; and four, two hour collaborative classes, Fridays 12.00-14.00 as scheduled on MyCampus, with a corresponding alternative, online two hour collaborative class on Mondays, 14.00-16.00. The alternative time is principally for the benefit of Economics students for whom there is a timetable clash, but is also open to students who miss the normal Friday class.

PHIL2001

None

The standard assessments for this course are:

■ Essay (1,500 words) - 40%

■ 10x multiple choice quizzes -10%

■ Written Exam (90 minutes) - 50%

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 extensions to the deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustment (students should follow the usual process for extensions).

■ There is no alternative to the class test, but extra time/alternative space can be offered as reasonable adjustment.

■ There is no alternative to the exam, but extra time/alternative space can be offered as reasonable adjustment.

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

This course aims to:

■ Introduce students to advanced reasoning skills.

■ Allow students to develop analytical thinking skills via (a) the identification and clarification of conceptual relationships and (b) the identification and evaluation of assumptions and arguments concerning the nature and constituents of reality.

■ Provide students with the opportunity to study and engage with different theories from within metaphysics.

■ Allow students to apply reasoning skills to questions about the nature of the reality, including questions about the existence of supernatural entities, such as a divine being.

■ Allow students to engage with wider philosophical issues relating to the scope and aims of science.

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

■ Apply critical and analytical skills to issues of current philosophical importance pertaining to questions concerning the nature and constituents of reality.

■ Explain and apply the concepts of universal and existential quantification, predication, premise, conclusion, deductive validity, soundness, and other concepts central to logical argumentation.

■ Explain and evaluate arguments from within metaphysics concerning what kinds of things exist.

■ Analyse and critically evaluate theories and arguments concerning the existence of God and other supernatural entities.

■ Discuss critically some main positions relating to the scope and aims of scientific methodology.