Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2011 - 2012

Module Title	Reading Philosophers
Module Code	PHIL2
School	Oscail
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Mr James Brunton	Office Number	D102
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	15
Pre-requisite	PHIL1
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

In this module students are introduced to the classical, medieval and modern traditions through intensive reading of selected texts by Plato, Aquinas and Kant.

Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate the ability to competently navigate primary texts in philosophy by Plato, Aquinas, and Kant
2. Analyse key inquiries into the nature of reality found in classical, medieval and modern philosophical texts
3. Evaluate the central philosophical themes addressed by Plato in his Republic
4. Examine the core elements in the metaphysics of St. Thomas Aquinas
5. Analyse key elements in Kant's position on the power of human reason to conduct metaphysical inquiry, as presented in his Critique of Pure Reason
6. Evaluate the ideas of Plato, Aquinas and Kant to the history of metaphysics

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Tutorial	15	No Description
On-line learning	15	No Description
Independent learning time	345	No Description
Total Workload: 375

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Part 1: Reading Plato.
Unit 1: Introduction : How to Read Plato’s Republic.

Unit 2: The Republic Book 1: The Overture.
Unit 3: The Republic Books 2 and 3: Founding a City in Speech.

Unit 4: The Republic Book 4: Virtue in the City and in the Soul.
Unit 5: The Republic Book 5: Radical Proposals for Kallipolis.

Unit 6: The Republic Book 6: Genuine versus Fake Philosophers.
Unit 7: The Republic Book 7: The Education of the Philosopher-ruler.

Unit 8: The Republic Book 8 and 9: Decline and Fall.
Unit 9: The Republic Book 10: The Epilogue.

Part 2: Reading Aquinas – Metaphysics The Question about the Meaning of Being.
Unit 10: Introduction – On Reading Aquinas.

Unit 11: The Historical Context.
Unit 12: Theory of Knowledge.

Unit 13: What is Metaphysics?.
Unit 14: How are we to ‘Think’ Being?.

Unit 15: The Inner Structure of Being.
Unit 16: Essential Attributes of Being: Transcendentals.

Unit 17: Postscripts Paradigms of First Philosophy.
Part 3: Reading Kant: The Critique of Pure Reason.

Unit 18: General Introduction to Kant’s life and Writing.
Unit 19: An outline of the Critique of Pure Reason.

Unit 20: Kant’s Criticism of Metaphysics.
Unit 21: The Transcendental Aesthetic.

Unit 22: Transcendental Deduction of the Categories (Version A).
Unit 23: Transcendental Deduction of the Categories (Version B).

Unit 24: Causality: The Second Analogy.
Unit 25: Substance and the Refutation of Idealism.

Unit 26: The Transcendental Dialectic.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	50%	Examination Weight	50%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assignment	Assessment takes a variety of forms, including essays, reports, learning journals, presentations and group assignments.	50%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; 1 = A resit is available for all components of the module 2 = No resit is available for 100% continuous assessment module 3 = No resit is available for the continuous assessment component
Unavailable

Indicative Reading List

Palto: 0, Republic,
Immanuel Kant: 0, Critique of Pure Reason,
Thomas Aquinas: 0, Selected Philosophical Writings,
Kretzman, N. and Stump, E. (eds.): 1993, The Cambridge Companion to Aquinas, Cambridge University Press,
0: Many of the readings for this module are available in different editions and/or online. Please see moodle for further details.,

Other Resources

None

Programme or List of Programmes

Diploma/BA in Humanities

BASM

BA Single Module

Timetable this semester: Timetable for PHIL2

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