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This course aims to teach the central skills of philosophy - creative thinking plus precision. We look at deep philosophical questions through the eyes of several of the most challenging philosophers of the 20th and 21st centuries. For example: Do we think in words? If I say 'I'm in pain' or ‘I see blue’, do you really know what I mean? Can humans or machines learn to speak ‘Whale’? How can we talk about what doesn't exist - tomorrow, Harry Potter, or the possible world where you win $50 million on Lotto? Is there an impossible world where you can square the circle? Why does every attempt to solve a philosophical problem simply raise more problems, sometimes even worse ones?
Why study philosophy? Not only is philosophy one of the most interesting and challenging subjects, it teaches skills that employers want: thinking outside the box, logic, ethics, and excellent writing and communication skills. The aim of PHIL311 is that you will:1. Understand and analyze central problems in recent and contemporary philosophy2. Defend a position rigorously by means of logical argument 3. Think independently and creatively about theoretical problems4. Question assumptions and theories 5. Communicate effectively and unambiguously, both orally and in written reports6. Become skilled in using digital sources and systems for research
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award
Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.
Employable, innovative and enterprising
Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.
Any 30 points at 200 level from PHIL, orany 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA or the BSc.
PHIL464, PHIL497
Diane Proudfoot
Contact Diane for further information.
Please check the course LEARN page for further details and updates.
The textbook for Part One of this course is A. Kenny (ed.) The Wittgenstein Reader, 2nd edition (Blackwell, 2006); copies are available in UBS and on 3-hour loan in the High Demand Collection. Core readings for Part Two will be available online, in Learn or through the Library.(Image: "Ludwig Wittgenstein 2" by Christiaan Tonnis, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic.)
Domestic fee $1,788.00
International fee $8,200.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Humanities .