Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2011 - 2012

Module Title	Contemporary Philosophy
Module Code	PHIL6
School	Oscail
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Mr James Brunton	Office Number	D102
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	15
Pre-requisite	PHIL1, PHIL2
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

Description

Major themes in contemporary philosophy, both from the continental and Anglo Saxon traditions are examined through the work of key philosophers, including Hegel, Nietzsche, Habermas, Foucault, de Beauvoir, Kristeva, Irigaray, Husserl, Heidegger, Gadamer, Merleau Ponty, Levinas, Derrida and Ricouer. Students also produce a dissertation as part of this module.

Learning Outcomes

1. Examine, in a critical way, central tenets of some of the mainstreams movements in twentieth century European Philosophy, such as, phenomenology, existentialism, hermeneutics, critical theory, structuralism, feminist philosophy, and Kantian-Thomism
2. Critically evaluate Hegel's analysis of the way Spirit (Geist) both manifests itself and evolves throughout history as elaborated in Hegel's The Phenomenology of Spirit and assess its relevance in contemporary philosophy
3. Critically analyse Hegel's philosophical views on the relation between the family, civil society and the state in his Philosophy of Right
4. Critically compare Hegel's dialectical method of philosophical enquiry to his predecessors
5. Critically appraise Hegel's analysis of the master-slave relationship and assess its relevance in contemporary philosophy
6. Critically appraise philosophies of the unconsciousness (Freud, Lacan) in addressing the question of self-consciousness and self-determination in contemporary philosophy
7. Discriminate between various types of philosophical methods that were deployed in the development of phenomenology, such as, Brentano's descriptive psychology, Husserl's early descriptive-eidetic psychology, Husserl's later transcendental phenomenology
8. Critically evaluate different definitions of phenomenology through an investigation of alternatives proposed by such as Heidegger's hermeneutic phenomenology, Merleau-Ponty's existential phenomenology, Derrida's deconstruction of phenomenology, Lévinas's ethical phenomenology of 'the other'
9. Carry out an original dissertation which complies with professional standards and conventions

Workload	Full-time hours per semester
*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Tutorial	15	No Description
On-line learning	15	No Description
Independent learning	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: Hegel.
Unit 1: Hegel: An Introduction.

Unit 2: Hegel and Geist.
Unit 3: Hegel - The Philosophy of Right.

PART 2: Discourse and Power.
Unit 4: Discourse and Power: Introduction.

Unit 5: Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900).
Unit 6: Jurgen Habermas (B. 1929).

Unit 7: Michel Foucault (1926-1984).
Unit 8: Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986).

Unit 9: Julia Kristeva (B. 1941).
Unit 10: Luce Irigaray (B. 1930).

PART 3: Phenomenology, Hermeneutics and Deconstruction.
Unit 11: Husserl: The Founder of Phenomenology.

Unit 12: Husserl's Transcendental Phenomenology.
Unit 13: Heidegger's Hermeneutical Phenomenology.

Unit 14: Gadamer's Hermeneutics.
Unit 15: Merleau-Ponty's Phenomenology of the Body-Subject.

Unit 16: Emmanuel Levinas: The Phenomenology of the Other.
Unit 17: Derrida and Deconstruction - Part 1.

Unit 18: Derrida and Deconstruction - Part 2.
PART 4: Lonergan and Kant.

Unit 19: Moments of Understanding.
Unit 20: The Questioning Mind.

Unit 21: Image, Question, Insight, Proposition.
Unit 22: Judgement.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Course Work Breakdown
Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date

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

Gadamer, Hans Georg: 1992, Philosophical Hermeneutics,
Hegel, G.W.F: 1991, Elements of the Philosophy of Right,
Hegel, G.W.F: 2004, The Phenomenology of Mind,
Kant, Immanuel: 2006, Critique of Pure Reason,
Kearney, Richard: 2003, Continental philosophy in the twentieth century,
Kearney, Richard: 1994, Modern Movements in European Philosophy, Second,
Kearney, Richard and Rainwater, Mara: 1995, The Continental Philosophy Reader,
Nietzsche, Friedrich: 2003, Beyond Good and Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future,
Taylor, C: 1975, Hegel,
0: Please see moodle for other readings and online resources.,

Other Resources

None

Programme or List of Programmes

Diploma/BA in Humanities

BASM

BA Single Module

Timetable this semester: Timetable for PHIL6

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