Undergraduate Courses

First Year

Current Students

First Year

Please make sure you are familiar with our First-Year Philosophy Handbook 2023/24 

Please also note the following https://www.universityofgalway.ie/media/celt/files/policies/QA202-Lecture-Recording.pdf

Queries about online learning answered here: Student Queries Recommended Stages 1st Yr

Mic Léinn: Ceist a ardú maidir le fadhbanna teagaisc ‌

‌

First Year Modules 2023/2024

• Introduction to the History of Philosophy
• Critical Thinking & Logic
• Philosophical Questions & Issues
• Introduction to Practical Ethics 

Timetables:

1^st Arts Semester One 2023/24

Lectures:

Students must attend all the lectures for all of their modules and should, where advised by their lecturer, complete the reading in advance. Students are responsible for taking their own notes during lectures and should arrive on time for their classes

Time	Title	Code	Venue	Lecturer
Monday 5-6	Introduction to the History of Philosophy	PI107	Dr. O. Richardson	Anderson Theatre, AC002
Tuesday 4-5	Introduction to the History of Philosophy	PI107	Dr. O. Richardson	O'Flaherty Theatre, AC001
Wednesday 2-3	Philosophical Questions & Issues	PI120	Dr Nora Ward	Kirwan Theatre, SC001
Friday 2-3	Critical Thinking & Logic	PISK1102	Dr. N. Tosh	IT250 (First Floor)

 Tutorials:

1^st Arts Semester Two 2023/24

Time	Title	Code	Venue	Lecturer
Monday 5-6	Introduction to Practical Ethics	PI108	AC001 O’Flaherty Lecture Theatre	Dr. R. Hull
Tuesday 4-5	Introduction to Practical Ethics	PI108	IT250 (First floor)	Dr. R. Hull
Wed 2-3	Philosophical Questions & Issues	PI120	AUC G002 Theatre, Aras Ui Chathail	Dr. N. Tosh & Dr. L. Elvis
Friday 2-3	Critical Thinking & Logic	PISK1102	AC002 Anderson Lecture Theatre	Dr. N. Tosh

 

Staff Representative for First Years:   

• Dr Lucy Elvis: lucy.elvis@universityofgalway.ie

Student Representatives fir First Years: TBA

Dates of Semesters 

Canvas

Compulsory/ Optional Courses:

All courses are compulsory for B.A. students (Joint Honours).     B.A. Connect students do not have to take PI120 Philosophical Questions and Issues.

Schedule of Courses:

Compulsory
Code	Course	Semester	ECTS	Examination
PI107	Introduction to the History of Philosophy	1	5	Exam
PI108	Introduction to Practical Ethics	2	5	Essay and in-class assessment
PISK1102	Critical Thinking & Logic	1 & 2	5	Continuous Assessment and Written Exam
PI120	Philosophical Questions and Issues	1 & 2	5	Essay/Written Exam

 Individual Course Details:

Introduction to History of Philosophy:

Code	Semester	Contact hours / weekly	ECTS
PI107	1	2 (Tutorials not included)	5

Lecturer:  Dr. O. Richardson

Course description:

The course will introduce students to key thinkers and ideas in the history of western philosophy. Since ancient philosophy is so central to this history, the first half of the course is devoted to some of its most important achievements in the work of the Pre-Socratics, Plato, and Aristotle. Attention is then turned to aspects of medieval philosophy, and the great rationalist and empiricist traditions (represented by Descartes, Leibniz, Locke and Hume, respectively) finishing with Nietzsche. 

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination:  Examination

Core texts:   

Copleston, History of Philosophy, Image Publishing
Guthrie, W. K. C., The Greek Philosophers from Thales to Aristotle, Methuen
Johnston, D., A Brief History of Philosophy, Continuum
Plato, Republic, Penguin
Russell, B., History of Western Philosophy, Routledge
Solomon, R. and Higgins, K., A Short History of Philosophy, Oxford
Stumpf, S. E., and Fieser, J., Socrates to Sartre and Beyond, McGraw Hill

 

Introduction to Practical Ethics:

Code	Semester	Contact hours / weekly	ECTS
PI108	2	2 (Tutorials not included)	5

Lecturer: Dr. R. Hull

Course description: This course (Practical Ethics) provides a rigorous examination of a wide range of contemporary ethical issues. Students will learn about the ethical theories that tend to inform our practical decision making. Those theories will then be applied to a number of contemporary issues. These may include genetic selection, pre-natal testing, assisted death, social inequality and world poverty. Readings will be recommended for each topic via Blackboard.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination: Overall assessment is by written essay at the end of the second semester (50%) and in-class examination(s) throughout the second semester (50%).  

Core texts:

Mizzoni, J. Ethics: the basics, Blackwell 2010.

La Follette, H, ed., Ethics in Practice: An Anthology, Wiley-Blackwell, 2006.

Singer, P. Practical Ethics, Cambridge University Press, 2011.  

Wolff, J. An introduction to moral philosophy, Norton, 2018.

 

Critical Thinking & Logic:

Code	Semester	Contact hours / weekly	ECTS
PISK1102	1 & 2	2 (Tutorials not included)	5

Lecturer:  Dr. N. Tosh

Course description: Successful humanities students are sophisticated consumers and producers of arguments.   In this key skills module students will learn to distinguish arguments from other forms of persuasion; to map the argumentative structure of a complex text; to spot fallacious patterns of reasoning; and to plan and compose a strong argumentative essay.    Since these skills are not topic-specific, illustrations will be drawn from a range of academic disciplines.  No knowledge of philosophy will be assumed.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination:  Overall assessment is by continuous assessment in the first semester and a written examination in the second semester.

Core texts:         

The course is self-contained and there is no set text. However, for extension reading students may wish to consult the following:

Fisher, A. (2011). Critical Thinking: An Introduction.
Bowell, T. and Kemp, G. (2010). Critical Thinking: A Concise Guide.

 

Philosophical Questions & Issues:

Code	Semester	Contact hours / weekly	ECTS
PI120	1 & 2	2 (Tutorials not included)	5

Lecturers:    Dr. N Ward (Semeter One)
                    Dr. N. Tosh & Dr. L. Elvis (Semester Two)         

Course description: This course aims to introduce students to a diversity of philosophical approaches to the problem of meaning and value. Issues covered will include some of the following: justice, poverty, love, death, totalitarianism, genetics and human life, human rights, free will, violence and the meaning of life.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials. It is team taught by different lecturers each year. More specific readings will be advised at the beginning of each semester.

Methods of assessment and examination:  Overall assessment is by an essay at the end of the first semester and a written examination at the end of the second semester. Mid-term assignment may be required.

Selected texts: 

Law, S., The Philosophy Gym: 25 Short Adventures in Thinking
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Various editions
Bretall, R. (ed.), A Kierkegaard Anthology
Plato, Symposium, various editions 
Barry, B., Democracy, power and justice
Wolff, J., An Introduction to Political Philosophy
John Locke, “Of Identity and Diversity” (II. Xxvii), in Essay on Human Understanding 

 

 

Second Year

Entry requirements: A pass in First Arts Philosophy or its equivalent in the case of exchange and visiting students‌.

‌Please make sure that you are familiar with our 2nd year Handbook 23.24 (revised 7th Sept. 23)) ‌

Please also note the following https://www.nuigalway.ie/media/celt/files/policies/QA202-Lecture-Recording.pdf

Answers to queries re. online learning available here : 

Student Queries Recommended Stages 2nd Yr

Mic Léinn: Ceist a ardú maidir le fadhbanna teagaisc

Staff Representative for Second Years:   
Dr Nick Tosh, nick.tosh@universityofgalway.ie

Student Representatives for Second Year:   
TBA

Second Year Modules 2023/24

Semester 1:

• PI216 History of Modern Philosophy (compulsory)

plus two of the following optional modules:

• PI210 Moral and Political Philosophy 
• PI234 Topics in Practical Philosophy  
• PI48 Phenomenology 
• PI240 Bioethics

 

Semester 2: three of the following optional modules:

• PI207 Philosophy of Art
• PI241 History of Irish Thought
• PI2101 Information Ethics 
• PI2102 Formal Logic 
• PI2105 Philosophical Inquiry through P4C [PI2109 Philosophy in Irish Schools]

Timetables

Compulsory/Optional Courses:

PI216 is compulsory; all other second-year modules are optional. You should take three modules each semester. There may be occasional conflicts with other subjects. Before you register, make sure there are no conflicts with modules that you will be taking in your other subject. 

Teaching timetable

 

2^nd Arts Semester One 2023/24

Code	Title	Lecturer	Lecture
PI216	Hitory of Modern Philosophy	Dr. Tsarina Doyle & Prof. Felix Ó Murchadha	Monday, 9-10, Larmor Theatre Wednesday 9-10, IT125 (Ground Floor)
PI210	Moral and Political Philosophy	Dr. Orla Richardson	Wednesday, 4-6, Tyndall Theatre (SC005)
PI234	Topics in Practical Philosophy	Dr Lucy Elvis	Tuesday, 11-12, IT204 Thursday, 4-5, IT203
PI240	Bioethics	Dr Nora Ward	Tuesday, 10-11, IT 125 (First floor)                    Wednesday, 1-2, ENG-3035, Lecture room 05
PI248	Phenomenology	Prof. Felix Ó Murchadha	Thurs 9-10 IT204 Thurs 5-6, AC 213

 

 

2^nd Arts Semester Two 2023/24

Code	Title	Lecturer	Lecture
PI207	Philosophy of Art	Dr. Lucy Elvis	Tuesday 10-11, at AMB 1023 Mairtin O Tnuthail Theatre Thursdays, 11-12 at IT207
PI2101	Information Ethics	Dr. Heike Felzmann	Wednesday, 9-10, IT125 G Thursday, 5-6, IT125 G
PI241	History of Irish Thought	Dr. John O'Reilly	Mondays, 9-11, IT204
PI2102	Formal Logic	Dr. Nick Tosh	Monday 6-7, AC214 Friday 1-2, IT207
PI2105	Philosophical Inquiry through P4C	Dr Lucy Elvis & Dr. Orla Richardson	Wednesdays, 3-5, AMB-G010

Individual Course Details:

History of Modern Philosophy

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI216	1	5

 Lecturers: Prof. Felix Ó Murchadha and Dr Tsarina Doyle

Course description: Prof. Ó Murchadha will examine the development of Rationalism from Descartes to Leibiniz. Special attention will be paid to the rationalist attempt to give a systematic account of both human and non-human reality. Dr Doyle will examine the relation between empirical science and metaphysics in the eighteenth-century period of Enlightenment, with particular emphasis on the philosophies of Locke, Berkeley, Hume and Kant.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination: Overall assessment is based on essays. 

Core Texts:
Selected passages from the following text will be considered:
Roger Ariew & Eric Watkins (eds) Modern Philosophy: An Anthology of Primary Sources (Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co., 1998).

 

Moral and Political Philosophy

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI210	1	5

 Lecturer: Dr Orla Richardson

Course description: This module is an introduction to several important topics and questions in political and moral philosophy, such as: What, if anything, legitimises governmental authority and the exercise of political power? What is justice? What is the nature of citizenship? Is a free market a necessary component of a free society? What principles ground our fundamental notions of property rights, freedom, and equality? To explore these questions, we will begin by reading extracts from the Ancients, primarily Plato and Aristotle. We will then examine the ideas of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean Jacques Rousseau. Finally, we will review texts by nineteenth century authors, like J.S. Mill and Karl Marx. Overall, the aim of this course is to trace the ideas that have shaped our contemporary political systems and to equip us to think critically about what conditions make ‘the good society’ possible. 

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by discussion sessions utilising a community-of-inquiry approach to philosophical reflection. 

Methods of assessment and evaluation: 

Core Texts:
Steven M. Cahn, ed., Classics of Political and Moral Philosophy (Oxford University Press, 2011) 

 

 

Bioethics

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI240	1	5

Lecturer: Dr Nora Ward

Course description: This seminar is concerned with contemporary issues in Bioethics. It will introduce a variety of normative ethical theories to provide a foundation for the critical analysis of a range of issues arising from the biological and medical sciences. These are likely to include abortion, euthanasia/physician assisted suicide, disability, genetic modification and resource allocation. It is intended that students will gain knowledge of moral philosophy that equips them to evaluate some of the most pressing dilemmas facing biomedical practice.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination: Overall assessment is by Continuous Assessment (25%) and essay (75%).

Core Texts:
Beauchamp, T., & Childress, J., Principles of Biomedical Ethics, OUP, 1994.
Singer, P. (Ed), A Companion to Ethics, Blackwell, 1993.

 

 

 

Information Ethics

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI2101	2	5

 Lecturer: Dr Heike Felzmann

Course description: This module aims to provide students with a critical understanding of current and emerging ethical concerns in relation to internet services, social media, big data and robotics, including issues such as privacy, online identity, and human-robot interaction. Philosophical reflection of core concepts will underlie the discussion of emerging concerns in the field. Preparation of weekly readings is an essential requirement for participation.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination: Overall assessment is by continuous assessment and group project.

Core Texts:
Readings, primarily consisting of recent academic journal articles, and other supporting materials will be provided for each topic on Blackboard. The following are useful preparatory reading materials, but not required class readings:

Luciano Floridi (Ed) (2010). The Cambridge Handbook of information and Computer Ethics
Patrick Lin, Keith Abney, & George Bekey (Eds.). (2012). Robot ethics: the ethical and social implications of robotics. MIT Press.

Patrick Lin, Keith Abney, & Ryan Jenkins (Eds.). (2017). Robot ethics 2.0: From autonomous cars to artificial intelligence. Oxford University Press

Deborah Lupton (2016). The Quantified Self, Polity Press.

Helen Nissenbaum (2009). Privacy in Context: Technology, Policy and integrity of Social Life, Stanford University Press.

Shannon Vallor (2015). Social Networking and Ethics, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-social-networking/

Jeroen van den Hoven et al. (2019). Privacy and Information Technology, https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/it-privacy/

Shoshanna Zuboff (2019). The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight for a Human Future at the New Frontier of Power. Profile Books

 

Philosophy of Art

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI207	2	5

 Lecturer: Dr Lucy Elvis

Course description: This module is an introduction to philosophical approaches to various artforms across Western history of ideas. It gives students the skills to rigorously understand relevant key texts as well as critically discuss them in relation to a range of art practices and artworks. Whether pre-modern, modern, or contemporary, the philosophical approaches considered cover a variety of methods
including from the analytic and interpretive traditions. Similarly, the artforms discussed span a variety of historical periods, movements and categories.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination: Overall assessment is by essay.

Core Texts:
Gracyk, T., The Philosophy of Art, Polity Press
Carroll, N., Philosophy of Art: A Contemporary Introduction, Routledge
Hofstadter, A. and Kuhns, R., Philosophies of Art and Beauty: Selected Readings in Aesthetics from Plato to Heidegger, University of Chicago Press
Bredin, H. and Santoro-Brienza, L., Philosophies of Art and Beauty: Introduction to Aesthetics, Edinburgh University Press

 

History of Irish Thought

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI241	2	5

Lecturers:  Dr John O’Reilly

Course Description: The course History of Irish Thought introduces the student to the thought of Irish men and women who have made a contribution to philosophical thought. This year the course will focus on two particular individuals, the 18th parliamentarian and writer Edmund Burke (1729 –1797) and the contemporary political philosopher Philip Pettit. Our main concern shall be to examine their respective contributions to questions of liberty, good government, and the sources of a just and stable society.

 

Formal Logic

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI2102	2	5

 Lecturer: Dr Nick Tosh

Course description: Formal logic is the systematic study of deductive reasoning. It is motivated by such questions as ‘what does it mean to say that a piece of reasoning is “correct”?’, ‘how can we tell when a piece of reasoning is correct?’, and ‘could we program a machine to do the job for us?’ The course begins with the concept of validity, and then moves on to cover sentence logic, truth tables, natural deduction, and elementary predicate logic. Throughout, we lean heavily on Paul Teller’s Logic Primer, now freely available online (https://tellerprimer.ucdavis.edu/). No previous knowledge is assumed, but good study habits are essential. Readings and practice exercises will be set each week, and students who fall behind may find it difficult to catch up.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination: Overall assessment is by written exam, supplemented by some short in-class written tests.

Core Texts:
Paul Teller, A Modern Formal Logic Primer, https://tellerprimer.ucdavis.edu/

 

 

Philosophical Inquiry through P4C

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI2105	2	5

 Lecturers: Dr Lucy Elvis and Dr Orla Richardson

Course description: This is a peer-assisted learning module. It focuses on an educational approach to learning called Philosophy for Children (P4C). P4C is a form of inquiry-based learning that encourages critical thinking through democratic dialogue. It is a pedagogy that helps to foster critical, creative, and caring thinking skills amongst all types of learners. Through this internationally practised pedagogy, groups of learners become ‘communities of inquiry’, tackling philosophical questions they themselves identify and formulate. Through thinking together, these communities learn to challenge assumptions, give reasons, and cultivate their critical thinking skills. The module will provide students with a theoretical introduction to the P4C pedagogy, the opportunity to experience the pedagogy as members of a community of inquiry, and the skills needed to become a P4C facilitator. Students will develop their own facilitation practice by delivering P4C workshops (in teams) to groups of NUIG first-year philosophy students on campus at NUIG. 

Prerequisites:

• This module is capped at 21 students. If you would like to be considered for a place you must complete an expression of interest form.  This form must be submitted no later than 6pm on Friday 12/01/24. You will receive an email to notify you of the outcome of your expression of interest before 5pm on Monday 15/01/24.The form is available here.
• In weeks 3 and 4 of the semester, there will be a Saturday training event. Attendance at these training events is compulsory for any student registered for PI2105. 
• Garda vetting must be completed by any student participating in this module. Students will receive vetting information in week 2 of the semester. 

Teaching and learning methods: This course is taught through a mixture of lectures and seminar-based learning.

Methods of assessment

1) Satisfactory participation in all classes - including assigned facilitation of P4C workshops - is required.

2) Students are required to submit a detailed “theory-to-practice” journal.   In this journal, students will engage in theoretical reflection on the P4C pedagogy in response to short readings and will assess the impact of that reflection on their classroom practices. 

3) Book module and associated lesson plan.

Core Texts: You are not required to purchase a textbook. All extracts from primary texts will be available on Blackboard. However, there is a list of suggested preparatory core readings below:

Gregory, Maughn, Joanna Haynes, and Karin Murris. The Routledge International Handbook of Philosophy for Children. New York: Routledge, 2017.

Gregory, Laverty, Gregory, Maughn, and Laverty, Megan. In Community of Inquiry with Ann Margaret Sharp: Childhood, Philosophy and Education. Routledge International Studies in the Philosophy of Education, 2018.

Lipman, Matthew. Thinking in Education. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003.

Lipman, Matthew, Ann Margaret Sharp, and Frederick S. Oscanyan. Philosophy in the Classroom. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, [Pa.]: Temple University Press, 1980

Lyons, A., McIlrath, L. & Munck, R. Higher Education and Civic Engagement: Comparative Perspectives. UK: Palgrave MacMillan, 2012.

Naji, Rosnani Hashim, and Naji, Saeed. History, Theory and Practice of Philosophy for Children: International Perspectives. Routledge Research in Education. 2017. 

Final Year

Third Year

Entry requirements: A pass in Second Arts Philosophy or its equivalent in the case of visiting and exchange students. Students registered for the B.A. (International) must also have attained a satisfactory academic performance during their year abroad.

‌Please make sure you are familiar with our Final-Year Philosophy Handbook 23-24 (updated 7.09.23) 

Answers to queries regarding online learning available here: 

Students' queries recommended stages 3rd Years

Mic Léinn: Ceist a ardú maidir le fadhbanna teagaisc

Please also note the following https://www.nuigalway.ie/media/celt/files/policies/QA202-Lecture-Recording.pdf

Semester dates 

 

Third Year Modules 2023/2024

All third-year courses are optional. You should pick three modules each semester. Familiarity with Canvas is essential for your learning this year.

Semester 1:

• PI3100 Kant’s Theoretical Philosophy (Dr. Doyle)
• PI335 Moral Theory (Dr. Felzmann)
• PI315 Philosophy of Mind (Dr. O'Reilly)
• PI3103 Environmental Ethics (Dr. Ward)
• PI3104 Philosophy and Culture in Context (with placement) (Dr. Elvis)
• PI3106 Formal Logic 2 (Dr. N Tosh)

Semester 2:
Students are required to take THREE out of the following 6 Modules.
Please note that to register for PI399 you must have achieved a Second Year grade of 2:1 or higher in Philosophy.

• PI399 Extended Essay (Dr. Felzmann)
• PI129 Advanced Philosophical Text (Dr. Tosh)
• PI310 Topics in Applied Philosophy (Dr. Hull)
• PI327 Philosophy of Religion (Prof. Ó Murchadha)
• PI3105 Philosophy of Nature (Prof. Ó Murchadha) 

Timetables

                                                                   3rd Arts Semester One 2023/24

Code	Title	Lecturer	Lecture
PI3100	Kant's Theoretical Philosophy	Dr. Tsarina Doyle	Tuesdays, 11-1 IT125 First Floor
PI3106	Formal Logic 2	Dr. Nick Tosh	Thursdays, 5-7  Seminar Room,   19 Distillery Road
PI335	Moral Theory	Dr. Heike Felzmann	Wednesdays, 3-4 Larmor Theatre Thursdays, 10-11 MRA201 Ryan Institute Annex
PI315	Philosophy of Mind	Dr. John O'Reilly	Tuesdays, 2-3 Larmor Theatre Wednesdays, 11-12 ENG-2035, Lecture Room 8
PI3103	Environmental Ethics	Dr. Nora Ward	Wednesdays, 4-5 AC215 Thursdays, 4-5 AC214
PI3104	Philosophy and Culture in Context	Dr. Lucy Elvis	Mondays, 2 - 3   BLE 1006 Lecture Rm, Block E  Tuesdays, 4 – 5   AMB-G006

 

3^rd Arts Semester Two 2023/2024

 

Code	Title	Lecturer	Lecture
PI399	Extended Essay	Dr. Heike Felzmann	Mondays, 12-1 TB307
PI3105	Philosophy of Nature	Prof. Felix Ó Murchadha	Thursdays, 3-5 CA003
PI327	Philosophy of Religion	Prof. Felix Ó Murchadha	Wednesdays, 11-12 SC004 McMunn Theatre Thursdays, 10-11 AC201
P129	Advanced Philosophical Text	Dr. Nick Tosh	Tuesdays, 2-3,   Thursdays, 1-2,   Both lectures at AC214
PI310	Topics in Applied Philosophy	Dr. Richard Hull	Tuesdays, 12-1, IT202  Wednesdays, 3-4, AC213

 

There is no need to sign up to tutorials at the beginning of the year - lecturers will make and communicate any arrangements that might be in place with regard to splitting their classes for tutorials.  All modules will provide an interactive component to students.

Staff Representative for Third Years:   

• Dr. Heike Felzmann: heike.felzmann@universityofgalway.ie

Student Representatives for Third/Final Years:   

• Justine McGreal: j.mcgreal3@universityofgalway.ie

Individual Course Details

SEMESTER  1

Kant’s Theoretical Philosophy

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI3100	1	5

Lecturer:  Dr. Tsarina Doyle

Course description: This module examines Kant's theoretical philosophy by focussing on his arguments for transcendental idealism in the Critique of Pure Reason. Particular attention will be paid to Kant's ambitious aim to establish the objectivity of Newtonian science whilst leaving room for the possibility of God, freedom and immortality by focussing on his arguments for the transcendental ideality of space and time, his argument for the transcendental deduction of the categories, his distinction between phenomena and noumena, the argument of the Analogies and Antinomies. The module also incorporates a number of revision exercises to help with student learning and understanding of the text.

 

Moral Theory 

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI335	1	5

Lecturer:  Dr. Heike Felzmann

Course description: This course will introduce students to important positions and concepts in contemporary moral theory. It covers the traditional theories of consequentialism, deontology and virtue theory, as well as contemporary theories, such as the principle-based approach to bioethics, care ethics and narrative ethics.  It will also explore amoralism and relativism and engage with the concepts of responsibility, conscience and moral luck. Preparation of weekly readings and willingness to participate constructively in class discussion are essential requirements for participation.

 

Philosophy of Mind

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI315	1	5

 Lecturers:  Dr John O’Reilly

Course Description: The course begins with an introduction to three influential approaches to mental phenomena – Logical Behaviourism, Identity Theory, and the emergence of Functionalism. The second part of the course builds on these foundations via an exploration of David Lewis’ Analytic Functionalism and Jerry Fodor’s Psycho-functionalism. At this stage, we are ready to look at the Computational Theory of Mind and Daniel Dennett’s Intentional Stance. The final section of the course focuses on John Searle’s critique of the Computational approach to the mind with his “Chinese Room” thought experiment and on the advent of Embodied Cognition as a criticism of overly mind-centred accounts of cognition.

 

Environmental Ethics

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI3103	1	5

Lecturers:  Dr Nora Ward

Course description: This class will focus on the ethical, ecological and social dimensions of environmental issues. We begin with an exploration of the perception of nature in Western thought, through a review of texts that shaped the field of environmental ethics. As such, we will explore the relationship between human and non-human nature, addressing questions such as "Does non-human nature matter for its own sake, or simply for the sake of fulfilling human interests? What about the value of holistic entities such as ecosystems? What is intrinsic value anyway, and how does it differ from instrumental value?" Towards the latter half of the course, we will focus on the philosophical implications of international environmental issues such as climate change, indigenous rights, ecofeminism, environment justice and eco-terrorism.

 

Philosophy and Culture in Context

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI3104	1	5

Lecturers:  Dr Lucy Elvis

Course description: This module explores philosophical approaches to the production and consumption of art and culture. Beginning with the question ‘What is culture?’ it progresses to exploring approaches to culture by a range of German thinkers from the 18th to 20th century from Schiller and Nietzsche to contributions from a range of thinkers from the Frankfurt school (Benjamin, Adorno, Horkheimer and Marcuse).  In the case of each thinker, we ask what the task of culture is, (an existential conform, a form of elevation, a means of control or a revolutionary force, for example) and the implications of this account for how we engage with cultural phenomena.
This module focuses on reflecting on these varied ideas in practice, and as such students have a choice of continuous assessment options including a placement at TULCA festival of arts or producing a short podcast.

 

SEMESTER 2:

Extended Essay

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI399	2	5

Lecturers:  Dr Heike Felzmann

Course description: The extended essay is an independent piece of research, intended to allow you to demonstrate the full range of your understanding of a topic of your choice. While you should not be afraid of being ambitious in terms of the argument that you present, you are expected to identify a clearly defined and specific research question, demonstrate high standards in literature research and present a well-supported and specific argument. You are required to discuss the choice of essay topic with a lecturer before the beginning of Semester 2 and obtain their agreement to be your supervisor. Work for this module consists in reflecting on the different stages of essay development within the group and attending supervisory meeting several times during the semester. 

 

Topics in Applied Philosophy

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI310	2	5

 Lecturers:  Dr Richard Hull

Course description: This course is concerned with the application of the study of philosophy to issues of public concern. It takes the experiences of disability and social deprivation as case studies and looks at how such experiences can best be theoretically articulated. Particular attention is given to rival theories of human freedom and their relevance to contemporary social and political debates. Attention is also focused on how different theories of justice and morality imply very different social responses to the issues of disability and deprivation. Subjects covered include Rawls’ theory of freedom, Nozick's libertarianism, the acts/omissions distinction and the doctrine of double effect. The course is designed to give students an analytical background that can be used to explore other contemporary social and political issues.

 

Philosophy of Religion

Code	Semester	ECTS
PI327	2	5

Lecturer: Prof. Felix Ó Murchadha

Course description: This course will discuss one of the principle problems of the philosophy of religion, namely the relation of faith and reason.  The relation of faith and reason has been a matter of controversy since the early Christian thinkers.  In modernity, with a revised account of reason and rationality, the question became increasingly complex and the philosophical positions on this issue increasingly divergent.  We will look at two philosophers: Kant and Kierkegaard.  Following upon that, we will discuss a number of themes including forgiveness, language, love, violence and time.