Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE PHI1006

 
TITLE History of Philosophy: (a) Modern Philosophy and (b) Contemporary Philosophy

 
UM LEVEL 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Philosophy

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit covers the major themes and methods in modern and contemporary Western philosophy. It provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the evolution of philosophical thought from the 17th century to the present delving into the questions that characterised these periods and enabling the student to engage with them.

Study-Unit Aims:

The study-unit aims to introduce students to (a) key figures and themes in modern and contemporary philosophy and (b) techniques and methodologies in intellectual history. Students will also be guided to analyse, articulate and present key philosophical debates in modern and contemporary philosophy.

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit students will be able to:

- consolidate their earlier knowledge of modern and contemporary philosophy;
- engage critically with primary texts in both modern and contemporary philosophy;
- appreciate different approaches to key philosophical questions in modern and contemporary philosophy;
- identify and review relevant secondary literature concerning specific authors and/or themes in modern and contemporary philosophy.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- identify and reflect upon key concepts and debates in the modern philosophy and contemporary philosophy;
- read analytically and critically a selection of texts in modern and contemporary philosophy;
- engage in meaningful discussions on the main themes covered in the unit;
- write an assignment on a specific author/theme/text of the early modern period.


Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Castell, A., Introduction to Modern Philosophy: Examining the Human Condition, Pearson, New York, 2000.
- Kenny, A., A History of Philosophy in Four Parts, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2012.
- Kwame, A.A., Thinking it Through: An Introduction to Contemporary Philosophy, OUP, Oxford, 2003.
- Lacey, A.R., Modern Philosophy: An Introduction, Routledge, London, 1982.
- Livingston, P and Cutrofello, A., The Problems of Contemporary Philosophy: A Critical Guide for the Unaffiliated, Polity, Cambridge, 2005.
- Priest, S., The British Empiricists, Penguin Books, London, 1990
- Scruton, R., A Short History of Modern Philosophy, Routledge, London, 1984.
- West D., An Introduction to Continental Philosophy, Polity, Oxford, 1996.

Supplementary Readings:

- Cottingham J., Rationalists, OUP, 1988.
- Harrison, B., An Introduction to the Philosophy of Language, Macmillan, London, 1979.
- Woolhouse R.S., Empiricists, OUP, Oxford,1988.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (2 Hours) See note below Yes 100%
Note: Assessment due will vary according to the study-unit availability.

 
LECTURER/S Joseph Friggieri
Claude Mangion

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit