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Year:

PHIL303 Epistemology: The Enlightenment and Beyond

Updated: 17 January 2013
Credit Points 6
Offering
Responsible Campus Teaching Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Off Campus
Armidale Trimester 1 On Campus
Intensive School(s) None
Supervised Exam There is no UNE Supervised Examination.
Pre-requisites 6cp in PHIL or HUMS101 or IDIG110 or 12cp in RELS or candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions PHIL203 or PHIL403 or PHIL503 or PHRS203 or PHRS240 or PHRS340 or PHRS403
Notes None
Combined Units PHIL503 - Epistemology: The Enlightenment and Beyond
Coordinator(s) Anthony Lynch (alynch@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

This unit provides a critical exposition of the Enlightenment Project, especially as it applies to science and to religion. Among other topics, there will be an introduction to the thought of Hume and Kant, and an examination of some contemporary responses to these two key enlightenment thinkers, including a discussion of realism concerning science and concerning religion.

Materials No text required
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 1 60% 3500
Assessment Notes
Essay
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-3 GA: 1, 2, 4-7
Take Home Exam 40%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-3 GA: 1, 2, 4-7

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. discuss contemporary epistemological theories;
  2. critically discuss the Hume/Kant debate; and
  3. critically discuss the modern philosophies of religion.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Knowledge of the philosophy discipline will be taught through unit notes, readings, assignments and take home exam. Knowledge is assessed in all assessment tasks.
True True
2 Communication Skills
Students will be taught communication skills through written feedback on the essay for the unit. Students will learn valuable communication skills through participation in tutorials and online discussion postings (this will include debates and small group work). Students will be assessed on the style of writing, clarity of writing, expression and development of ideas, and referencing. Students will also practise their communication skills through completing the assessment tasks.
True True True
3 Global Perspectives
This unit's emphasis on the broader philosophical underpinnings of our reasoning practices will present students with opportunities for developing a global perspective.
True
4 Information Literacy
Students will be directed to relevant literature and taught how to assess its validity. Students will be assessed on their ability to identify and critically analyse the relevant literature.
True True
5 Life-Long Learning
By completing the assessments, students will be provided with the necessary lifelong skills to be able to research, write and discuss social issues. These skills can be transferred to any discipline, and will be useful in any research positions. These attributes will be assessed in all of the assessments (written skills; analytical skills).
True True
6 Problem Solving
Students will be assessed on their ability to deconstruct the questions and to integrate theory and literature into their answer. Students will need to work out how to address the question and where to find the most appropriate material to answer the question.
True
7 Social Responsibility
Students will be taught about their professional responsibilities as a researcher to provide balanced and accurate research. In addition, students will be taught that they have a social responsibility to question and challenge some 'facts'. This will be assessed and taught through their responses to the essay, take home exam questions and discussions in tutorials or online postings.
True True True
8 Team Work
Students will practise their teamwork skills through participating in tutorials, or online discussion postings. They will be required to discuss the weekly topics with their fellow students in a thoughtful and respectful manner.
True
   

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