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PHL1013: Philosophy of Morality

Almost daily we, both as individuals and as a society, are confronted with situations that are morally challenging. We are occasionally tempted to do things that we know to be wrong, and often we are not even sure what the right thing to do is. Amongst other things, we argue about the morality of abortion and assisted suicide, about animal rights and the rights of human embryos, about the permissibility of torture and the death penalty.

How do we know what is right and what is wrong? Philosophers have developed different theories that are meant to provide an answer. We will study these theories, look at various arguments that can be derived from them to show either the rightness or wrongness of certain actions or practices, e.g. abortion, and discuss their merits and weaknesses. No prior knowledge is required to complete this module.

The course introduces students to basic principles of the main contending moral theories and seeks to show how these are involved in assessing moral justifiability and obligation. It will also draw attention to the complex relation between moral theory and moral judgment on the one hand, and the factual status of the phenomena and situations to which moral reasoning and principles are applied on the other.

PHL1017: Creativity, Rigour and Insight: Introducing Philosophy

The best philosophy combines creativity, rigour and insight. In this module you will gain the skills you need to do this yourself. You will learn how to develop independent creative perspectives and arguments through focused engagement with fascinating and challenging philosophical positions. You will hone your rigorous critical thinking by learning the basics of logic with practical examples. You will learn to read and interpret philosophical texts deeply and insightfully. Combined with a focus on bringing these skills together with clear, persuasive philosophical writing, this module will set you up for the rest of your philosophy degree.

PHL1018: Philosophical Traditions

Philosophy has no single origin. In fact, throughout history, philosophy has emerged in most cultures and is practiced in mmany ways In this module, you’ll encounter a range of different historical approaches, such as Pre-Socratic and Classical Philosophy, Medieval Philosophy, and Early Modern Philosophy, as well as traditions emerging from different cultures (such as Continental Philosophy and various traditions in Eastern, Islamic and African Philosophies). By exploring some of these philosophical traditions and how they tackle various philosophical problems and themes, you will gain a global perspective on philosophy and understand how diverse cultures address fundamental human questions.

PHL1019: Philosophical Problems

Philosophers are often problem-solvers: bringing imaginative critical thinking and arguments to bare on thorny issues from what it means to live a good life, to whether and how we can know things, to what responsibilities we have towards our friends, strangers and society, and whether it is possible to embrace modern technology while retaining our humanity. In this module, you will be introduced to a set of these problems from across a wide range of topics, which may vary each year, and use them to learn how to think like a philosopher. Each week, one of these problems or puzzles will guide our thinking and discussion towards developing the skills needed to think independently, imaginatively and clearly.

PHL1004: Philosophical Problems 1

This module will introduce you to the kind of philosophical thinking that is involved in solving, or at least addressing, concrete philosophical problems. Each lecture will focus on such a problem, which will take the form of a concrete real-world example. Throughout the module, and through the lens of these examples, we will cover many of the core areas of philosophy. What sets this module apart from other general introductions to philosophy is its focus on concrete problematic examples. These examples themselves will guide your thinking and discussion, rather than what some famous philosopher happened to say. There is no prior knowledge or experience required, and there are no pre-requisite or co-requisite modules.

The aims of this module are both general and specific. The general aims are to introduce you to a way of approaching concrete problems with both clarity of thought and methodological sophistication. However, it will also introduce you to the fundamental nature and underlying motivations behind core areas and debates in philosophy. Too often students are told to read the two sides of a debate in philosophy without being first given an appreciation of why the debates in question are taking place. In stark contrast, this module situates, grounds and motivates key debates in philosophy, so that you will understand why so much ink has been spilled on certain (often seemingly trivial or obscure) issues.

PHL1010: Introduction to Asian Philosophy

This module introduces you to some of the most important philosophical traditions of Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism. It analyzes and discusses ancient classical texts in these traditions, and looks at different conceptions of reality, selfhood, consciousness, meditation, virtue and self-cultivation.

At the end of the module, you will be familiar with major Asian philosophical traditions, their historical and social background, and their central concepts as discussed in major classical texts. You will be aware of the existence of spiritual traditions concerned with the practice of self-cultivation, and understand the relationship between meditative practices and philosophical worldviews.

PHL1112: Philosophy of Film

In this module, you will watch and discuss 10 films, with a view to investigating the philosophically interesting problems that they raise. Topics discussed include horror films, film and ethics, film and politics and the ontology of cinema. This module is suitable for all students. It does not require a prior background in philosophy.

Films often address philosophically interesting topics, but not in the manner of abstract philosophical books or articles. A film, like any fiction, tells a story, in which a philosophical idea may be obliquely conveyed. But it is also a visual article, which can further clarify or complicate its philosophical meaning. The nature of cinema as a medium is a philosophically interesting topic in its own right. This module introduces you to a variety of philosophical problems through film, and asks what cinema may contribute - if anything - to our understanding of those problems

This module is intended as an alternative introduction to philosophical thinking, adding an audio-visual dimension to more text-based modules. The module prepares students for further studies at stages 2 and 3 by introducing them to various ways in which philosophical thinking can be applied productively to hypothetical and real life problems in a wide variety of contexts. The module also provides important analytical and interpretative skills essential in an increasingly visual social world.

SPA1004: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence

This module will introduce the core societal, philosophical and ethical issues raised by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Large Language Models (LLM) and provide a practical introduction to ethical use of Generative AI, with a focus on higher education. The module is suitable for all philosophy, sociology, criminology, anthropology, politics and international relations students who want to understand the philosophical issues related to AI and LLMs, and to acquire practical skills in the ethical use of AI.

• You will learn to identify and assess societal, philosophical and ethical issues raised by the development of artificial intelligence.
• You will learn research skills in ethically using Generative AI.
• You will develop core philosophical skills such as critical reflection, argumentation and clarity of expression.

PHL2016: Metaphysics

Metaphysics has been concerned with philosophy's most fundamental questions and traditionally was thought of as drawing upon distinctively philosophical methods to answer questions that the sciences could not answer. For much of the 20th century 'metaphysics' was seen as an outdated and moribund pursuit by philosophers who believed that philosophy lacks any distinctive knowledge-begetting methods of its own. By the turn of the 21st century however, metaphysics had rebounded to become the fastest growing sector within philosophy. The module will provide you with an in depth study of the meaning of 'metaphysics', basic concepts of metaphysics and the nature of metaphysical inquiry into a variety of contemporary problems.

The aim of this module is to introduce you to the place of metaphysics in the history of philosophy, to the challenges associated with the practice of metaphysics in contemporary thinking and with the principal problems that are presently addressed under the heading of metaphysics. You will become well versed in the nature of these problems and how one goes about addressing them from 'analytic', 'naturalistic' and 'critical' points of view.

PHL2057: Feminism

Feminism, in its broadest sense, is both a political movement and an intellectual commitment to disclose and overcome gender-based oppression and injustice. Feminist philosophers have made important contributions to a broad range of philosophical topics through attending to marginalised perspectives. In this module, you’ll explore a range of these topics, such as feminist ethics, feminist epistemology, feminist social and political philosophy, feminist philosophy of mind, feminist philosophy of science and technology, and critical theory. Throughout, you'll develop critical tools for analysing how power and structure shape philosophical inquiry, our understanding of the social world, and possibilities for resistance and change.

PHL2058: Mind and World

In this module you will consider current debates concerning the nature of the mind and its relation to the physical world. You will begin by analysing traditional philosophical approaches, such as identity theory, functionalism, and eliminativism, whose focus lies on the brain. Then, you will examine recent embodied, embedded, and extended theories of mind, that challenge this traditional brain-centred framework by considering the role of an agent's body and environment more fully. You will consider how these views might apply to language, emotion, gender, disability, and psychopathology. You will demonstrate your knowledge of these philosophical perspectives, summarise and evaluate them, and justify your own views with appropriate arguments.

PHL2059: Science and Technology

Science and technology lie at the heart of the modern world. Science sets our gold standard for knowledge, and its theories are taken to reveal the fundamental structure of reality, from the workings of our own minds to the inside of black holes. The technology that accompanies scientific progress has transformed our world, whether for good (e.g. heart surgery) or ill (e.g. climate change). In this module, you will explore a range of fascinating questions posed by science and technology. Is there any such thing as the scientific method? Should we believe in things we can’t see, like atoms or black holes? Does the fact that technology works show that science is true? By exploring such questions, you will learn to think critically about the nature of science and technology and their place in the modern world.

HAS3999: Study Abroad

The Study Abroad programme enables you to undertake a year-long study placement at a partner university outside of the UK, as part of your degree programme.

This module serves as the administrative mechanism for recording the Study Abroad assessment results of students within the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (HASS). Students participating in the Study Abroad programme and based in a HASS department (except for the Law School, the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, Modern Languages, and the School of Education) will be registered on this module during their Study Abroad placement year.

The Study Abroad programme widens the range of modules available to you during Stage 3 of your degree programme; enables you to broaden your academic horizons by studying in a different learning culture and (where relevant and appropriate) in languages other than English; and aims to promote resilience, independence, cultural awareness, and communication skills.

PHL3040: Philosophy Dissertation

The writing of a philosophy dissertation offers you the opportunity to engage in a research project on a topic of your own choice. Guidance and support include discussions with the module convener, allocation of an expert academic supervisor and participation in small discussion groups of students working on similar topics. The main aim is for you to select a topic and way of working on a philosophical problem that suits you and through which you can show your acquired skills in independent research, philosophical analysis and writing. You may choose to engage with and discuss a specific traditional or current problem, a particular author or book, or write a philosophical essay on a current ethical, social or epistemological problem.