PHI-10015 - Module Specification
School of Social, Political and Global Studies
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2021/22

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2021/22

This module will introduce some of the oldest known philosophy, primarily from Ancient India and Greece. Three main topics will be studied from the perspective of philosophers from these different traditions: the nature of the world, problems of knowledge, and the nature of the self or soul. Students will become familiar with the distinctive approaches to philosophical issues in the Indian and Greek traditions, as well as considering the similarities between them, and also investigate how linguistic differences and developments have played a part in shaping philosophical problems. The course will also explore how the questions considered are relevant to philosophical debates today. This module will be assessed in three stages, with answers on three short seminar topics, an essay and an exam.¿

To introduce students to three key traditions in the history of ancient philosophy.

Intended Learning Outcomes

explain fundamental ideas from the three major ancient traditions of philosophical thinking: 1,2
research into some of the arguments or positions of ancient philosophers from three ancient philosophical traditions and present the results in writing: 1,2
present critically on the basis of lecture and seminar discussions, as well as on the basis of further research, some of the main concepts and views of the topics covered in the the course: 1,2
illustrate the general relevance of ancient philosophy for contemporary philosophical thought: 1,2
understand the different social and political contexts in which the philosophers studied were working, and appreciate what they took the aims of philosophy to be: 1,2
be able to reflect upon the extent to which we can understand ancient philosophy, the problems which we might encounter in that endeavour, and what the conclusions about this imply for what the study of ancient philosophy can offer: 1,2
understand differing interpretations of a philosophical position encountered within the texts, and to critically assess whether one interpretation is more plausible than another, giving reasons for this assessment: 1,2
recognise and explain cases where linguistic accident, or lack of conceptual definition, has produced philosophical problems which we may not consider to be problematic, and to appreciate the implications of this phenomenon to current philosophical discussion: 1,2
distinguish between the main features of Greek, Indian and Buddhist ancient philosophies: 1,2

Study hours

12 hours lectures
8 hours seminars
50 hours preparation for seminars and seminar work
40 hours preparation for essay
40 hours preparation for exam

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment