Being, Becoming and Reality
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| PHIL2011 | Philosophy | 2 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- PHIL2011
- School
- Philosophy
- Level
- 2
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
We look at some fundamental metaphysical questions about the cosmos. A selection of the following topics will be studied:
- Objects: concrete vs. abstract; existence and nothingness
- Sets and mereology
- Properties, Property bearers, Relations
- States of affairs and non-mereological composition
- Modality (including counterfactuals) and possible worlds
- Time, persistence, change, and the non-present
Target Students
Second year single honours and joint honours Philosophy students and exchange students. Also available to second year Liberal Arts students who have either done PHIL1012 or PHIL1013; or are doing PHIL1012 OR PHIL1013 (co-requisite). Also available to single honours Philosophy and joint honours Music and Philosophy students in their final year taking 20 credits of Level 2 modules.
Co-requisites
Modules you must take in the same academic year, or have taken in a previous year, to enrol in this module:
Classes
- One 1-hour seminar each week for 10 weeks
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 10 weeks
Total contact time = 34 hours, not including activities scheduled during Directed Studies week
Assessment
- 50% Coursework: 2000 word essay
- 50% Exam (2-hour): 2 hour exam
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
The module aims to provide an examination of metaphysical thinking and close study of central topics in contemporary metaphysics.Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
Students should have a critical appreciation of basic contemporary disputes concerning the topics upon which the module focuses .
Skills
- Students should be able to reason, philosophically, to a well thought-out position regarding the metaphysical topics on which the module focuses.
- Students should be able to develop their own views, systematically, drawing upon the sources on which the module focuses.
- Students should be able to express themselves clearly and precisely, both in writing and in seminar discussions.
Understanding
Students should have a critical understanding of a variety of doctrines and arguments pertaining to topics on which the module focuses.