PHIL464-14S1 (C) Semester One 2014

Contemporary Philosophy

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 24 February 2014
End Date: Sunday, 29 June 2014
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 9 March 2014
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 25 May 2014

Description

Do we think in words? If I say 'I'm in pain', do you really know what I mean? You can't kick what doesn't exist, so how can you talk about what doesn't exist--tomorrow, Harry Potter, or the possible world where you win $1 million on Lotto? Is empathy a form of mind-reading? Can machines have concepts? Could you have been born in a different hemisphere, with different parents and the opposite sex? Why does every attempt to solve a philosophical problem simply raise more problems, sometimes even worse ones? We look at central philosophical problems through the eyes of some of the greatest and most challenging philosophers of the 20th century.

About 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. At UC you can do either a BA Honours in Philosophy or a BSc Honours in Mathematics and Philosophy, or take 400-level Philosophy courses as part of an Honours major in another subject.

Learning Outcomes

  • The aim of this course is that you will improve your ability to:
  • Analyse and solve central problems in contemporary philosophy

  • Communicate clearly and precisely to a high level, both orally and in written reports
  • Think and research independently

Prerequisites

Subject to approval of the Department Coordinator for Philosophy.

Restrictions

PHIL311 (from 2006), PHIL463 (2006 & earlier)

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Diane Proudfoot

Assessment

There is no final examination in this course.

Textbooks / Resources

Anthony Kenny (ed.), The Wittgenstein Reader, 2nd edition (Blackwell, 2006). Copies are available in UBS and on 3-hour loan in the High Demand Collection in the Library.

Additional readings, video files, and podcasts are available in the PHIL311 course site on Learn.

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $812.00

* 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 .

All PHIL464 Occurrences

  • PHIL464-14S1 (C) Semester One 2014
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