This module provides students with an introduction to the major themes and thinkers in Western Philosophy. It is divided into three main sections. The first provides a general introduction to the study of philosophy and explains what makes this subject so important and distinctive. It assumes no prior knowledge of the subject and it proceeds at a pace that is appropriate to students who are new to the subject. After the introduction, the module focuses on two main philosophical questions: what can we know and how should we live? The first of these questions refers to the possibility of knowledge. This area of philosophy is known as epistemology. The second question is about what it means to live a good life. This area of philosophy is known as ethics.

The section on epistemology begins with a study of the work of Plato and Aristotle. We then look at the major philosophical schools of thought in the Hellenistic world such as Cynicism and Stoicism. The module then proceeds to examine the work of Descartes, Hume and Kant. The following section on ethics engages with the work of Aristotle, Hume, Kant, Bentham, Mill and Nietzsche. The final section examines some contemporary examples of applied ethics. There are a broad range of topics that can be chosen such as Animal Rights, Embryo Research and Just War Theory.

Aims

1. To provide an introduction to the main themes in ethics and epistemology
2. To enable students to critically evaluate arguments and positions in the fields of ethics, applied ethics and epistemology
3. To ensure that students understand the academic conventions of university life
4. To ensure that students are confident in the expression of their thoughts and ideas

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module a student will be expected to be able to:
1. Have a secure knowledge of the main ideas and arguments in epistemology and ethics
2. Understand and evaluate different epistemological and ethical positions and arguments
3. Write clear, well-structured and critical philosophical essays
4. Comprehend major themes within philosophical texts
5. Articulate and defend their philosophical positions in class discussions
6. Select and evaluate primary and secondary sources and complete accompanying bibliography

Syllabus

Topic 1: Introduction to Western Philosophy
Topic 2: Introduction to Epistemology: Rationalism and Empiricism
Topic 3: Plato and Aristotle
Topic 4: Stoicism, Scepticism, Cynicism and Epicureanism
Topic 4: The philosophy of Doubt: Descartes and Hume
Topic 7: Kant: A response to Hume.
Topic 8: Introduction to Ethics
Topic 10: Aristotle's ‘Virtue Ethics’.
Topic 11: Hume's ethics: ‘Sympathy and the Passions’.
Topic 12: Kant's ethics: ‘The Categorical Imperative’.
Topic 13: Bentham and Mill: ‘Happiness and the Good Life’.
Topic 14: Nietzsche: ‘Slave Morality’.
Topic 16: Applied ethics: Any two of the following: Embryo Research, Just War Theory, Animal Rights, Prostitution, Just War Theory, Euthanasia, Capital Punishment, Abortion. (readings for these topics will be provided at the time).