| CODE | PHI1024 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Epistemology | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Philosophy | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Epistemology is one of the most fundamental and long-standing areas of research in philosophy. It is often more colloquially referred to as the “theory of knowledge,” and this in turn suggests that its principal concern of this branch of study centres around the nature, sources, limits, and scope of human knowledge. This study-unit aims to introduce students to some of the most pressing contemporary issues in this important field of study. The central questions tackled in this study-unit include: - Can we know anything at all? - What is the nature of knowledge and where is it derived from? - How is perception related to knowledge? - What is the distinction between scientific and pseudo-scientific knowledge? - What kinds of knowledge are there? In this introductory unit, these questions shall be confronted in a systematic and critical manner, thereby allowing students to gain a solid and clear understanding of the main issues and concerns raised by this fascinating branch of philosophical research. Study-Unit Aims: The aims of this study-unit are to: - allow students to explore questions related to the nature, scope, and limitations of knowledge; - encourage students to systematically and critically evaluate different theories of knowledge; - facilitate the exploration of some of the more prominent issues related to the theory of knowledge. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - define and employ key concepts in epistemology (externalism, internalism, coherentism, fallibilism, etc.); - critically evaluate the ideas related to the acquisition and scope of knowledge; - familiarise themselves with the central concepts shaping the contemporary debates on epistemology. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - identify and reflect on the central concepts in epistemology; - evaluate the merits and deficiencies of different philosophical views concerning knowledge; - write a critical essay on a particular aspect of epistemology; - construct arguments and interpret epistemological concepts in a written assignment. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Pritchard, Duncan (2018) What is This Thing Called Knowledge? 4th edn. Oxon: Routledge. - Audi, Robert (2010) Epistemology: A Contemporary Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge. Oxon: Routledge. - Moser, Paul K. (2002) The Oxford Handbook of Epistemology. New York: Oxford University Press. - Everson, Stephen (1990) Epistemology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Supplementary Readings: - Bernecker, Sven and Pritchard, Duncan eds. (2013) The Routledge Companion to Epistemology. Oxon: Routledge. A selection of articles from the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, available at: http://iep.utm.edu. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Niki Young |
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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. |
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