This is an intensive final-year module running over five weeks during the summer term. It is the default capstone project for all Philosophy students and involves a guided and structured approach to support students in completing a research project of their own.
The theme for Summer Term 2025 is Practical Wisdom and Judgment. In this module we will consider the nature of non-formal reason in developing problem-solving skills. Students will learn theories of problem-solving and practice working together on case studies in which they apply the theories of judgment developed in the first part of the module. Students will also be expected to pursue an independent research project on a problem of their choice, developing a response that is sensitive to the non-formalizability of the problem context. The emphasis will be on in-person learning.
The first three weeks (Weeks 30-32) will involve 4 module hours a day, 4 days a week. The first two hours of the day are a ‘study hall’ during which students are expected to do the assigned reading for that day. These reading sessions are timetabled to encourage students to approach the reading as a task to be done in the presence of their peers, ideally prompting peer discussions and shared learning. The second two-hour block of each day is a combination lecture/seminar in which students are guided through the text and its key themes.
- Module Supervisor: Matthew Burch
- Module Supervisor: Irene Mcmullin