philosophy/ug-arts-philosophy

aos

18 September 2017 22 December 2024
Monash University

Undergraduate - Area of Study

Students who commenced study in 2012 should refer to this area of study entry for direction on the requirments; to check which units are currently available for enrolment, refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your area of study.

print version

All areas of study information should be read in conjunction with the relevant course entry in the Handbook. The units listed for this area of study relate only to the 'Requirements' outlined in the Faculty of Arts component of any bachelors double degrees.

Managing facultyFaculty of Arts
Offered bySchool of Philosophical, Historical and International Studies
Campus(es)Caulfield, Clayton, South Africa

Notes

  • Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the handbook are not available for study in the current year.
  • Also available via off-campus learning, although some later-year units may only be available in on-campus mode. Units are available in South Africa, however, to complete a minor/major some units would need to be taken via off-campus learning.

Description

NOTE: This area of study has had one or more changes made to it since publication on 1 October 2011. For details of change/s, please consult the change register at http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/2012handbooks/2012-change-register.html.

Philosophy is the study of fundamental ideas about the world we live in. It questions the nature of our world, asks what would constitute a good life in such a world, and asks what could be done to make it better.

Students are not expected to be persuaded by the doctrines of any one school or tradition. Rather, studies in philosophy seeks to deepen the understanding of a variety of different world views. Students are encouraged to express any conclusions they themselves may have reached concerning foundational questions, but they are also expected to try to understand some of the influential conclusions others have reached. Furthermore, it is essential that students try to understand what reasons people have had for reaching those conclusions. Thus, students are strongly encouraged to study the theory of reasoning (logic) if they intend to major in philosophy.

The following are some other areas of study that are central to philosophy:

  • Metaphysics is the study of what sorts of things exist in the world, and how they are related: for instance, whether there is a mind or soul and if so, how it is related to the body.
  • Epistemology is the study of what constitutes knowledge of the world, and of what methods can be used to obtain it.
  • Ethics and aesthetics investigate what it is to make value judgements, and how such judgements can be justified.
  • Political philosophy attempts to discover the principles that underlie the structure of a good society.
  • Philosophy of language investigates the notions of meaning, truth and linguistic understanding.
  • Philosophy of mind studies the nature of the conscious mind.

Every human inquiry rests on general assumptions, which people take for granted while pursuing more particular goals. At times, however, in any discipline, foundational questions arise. Anyone facing such questions, in any discipline, is studying philosophy. Thus, for any discipline, there is an area of study appropriately described as the philosophy of that discipline, for example the philosophy of history, of psychology, of biology, of science, of law, of mathematics, and so on.

Sometimes these foundational questions within a discipline can profitably be explored by philosophers as well as by specialists in that discipline. Philosophers can draw connections between the foundational problems arising in one discipline and those arising in other disciplines. They can also attempt to integrate different disciplines, at a foundational level, into a coherent overall world view.

Because the focus of philosophical concerns varies enormously, the school provides a wide range of options for study while at the same time attempting to ensure that students have some acquaintance with the central problems and traditions in philosophy.

Philosophy provides skills in reasoning and argument that are applicable in a wide variety of professions as well as the opportunity to engage in a reflective appraisal of our place in the universe.

Units

First-year level

Students studying a sequence in philosophy must complete two units (12 points) from the following:

  • ATS1263 Bioethics: Current controversies
  • ATS1264 Bioethics: Biotechnology, justice and the law
  • ATS1371 Philosophy: Introduction A (Life, death, and morality)
  • ATS1372 Philosophy: Introduction D
  • ATS1833 Thinking: How to analyse arguments and improve your reasoning skills
  • ATS1835 Philosophy: Introduction B (Time, self, and mind)
  • ATS1836 Philosophy of film
  • ATS1837 Philosophy of Plato and Platonism
  • ATS1838 Philosophy: Introduction C (Logic)
  • ATS1839 Philosophy: Ethics

Second/Third-year level

Students studying a minor or major in philosophy must have completed the first-year sequence. In addition:

  • a minor requires completion of a further two units (12 points) from the units listed below
  • a major requires completion of a further six units (36 points) from the units listed below. A minimum of three units must be taken at third year level.

Clayton

Resource-based teaching and the philosophy flexible delivery program

Sufficient philosophy units are offered in flexible mode to complete a major. All these units can be taken in any semester and are flexibly scheduled so that class commitments are kept to a minimum. Flexible learning mode units are also available in the summer and in off-campus learning mode. These units use materials prepared specifically for off-campus students, but there is also a tutorial support service operating by telephone, fax and email. These basic resources are usually supplemented by workshops. Attendance at these workshops is optional. The intention is that the flexible learning program should make philosophy units available to students whose work or other commitments make it difficult for them to attend regular classes on-campus.

Closely associated with resource-based teaching is an alternative assessment program. The Keller Plan is used in most of these units. In the plan, a series of assessment tasks are completed in a specified order. Typically, the series involves short exercises, an essay and tests. Each task has to be completed at a satisfactory standard before moving on to the next, but students nominate the standard to count as satisfactory (pass, credit or distinction) and can retry on any task until that standard is achieved.

Relevant courses

Diplomas

  • 2327 Diploma in Liberal Arts
  • 2552 Diploma of Tertiary Studies

Associate degree

  • 4074 Associate Degree in Arts and Social Sciences

Bachelors

Single degrees

  • 0002 Bachelor of Arts
  • 3920 Bachelor of Arts - at Sunway
  • 4073 Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences
  • 1638 Bachelor of Arts as a Participant in the Dean's Scholars Program
  • 3914 Bachelor of Arts (Criminal Justice)
  • 3907 Bachelor of Arts (English Language)
  • 3910 Bachelor of Arts (Global)
  • 4077 Bachelor of Arts (International)
  • 2396 Bachelor of Arts (Journalism)
  • 1366 Bachelor of Arts (Languages)
  • 1708 Bachelor of Arts (Professional Communication)
  • 1712 Bachelor of Arts (Psychology)
  • 1719 Bachelor of Behavioural Science
  • 2476 Bachelor of Communication - at Sunway
  • 1731 Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling
  • 4042 Bachelor of Journalism
  • 0202 Bachelor of Letters
  • 1144 Bachelor of Performing Arts
  • 1275 Bachelor of Professional Communication
  • 4086 Bachelor of Social Science

Double degrees

  • 3277 Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering and Bachelor of Arts
  • 0550 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
  • 0553 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Banking and Finance)
  • 0555 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Management)
  • 0556 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (Marketing)
  • 0542 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 0170 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Economics
  • 1541 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education-primary
  • 1641 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education-secondary
  • 0080 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws
  • 3054 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music
  • 0530 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science
  • 3426 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Work
  • 0002 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology
  • 3779 Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Visual Arts
  • 1807 Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences and Bachelor of Business and Commerce
  • 1806 Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences and Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling
  • 4208 Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences and Bachelor of Education
  • 4089 Bachelor of Arts and Social Sciences and Bachelor of Visual and Media Arts
  • 4403 Bachelor of Arts (Global) and Bachelor of Commerce
  • 3537 Bachelor of Arts (Global) and Bachelor of Science
  • 2131 Bachelor of Arts (Journalism) and Bachelor of Science
  • 1798 Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling
  • 1941 Bachelor of Business and Commerce and Bachelor of Communication
  • 4423 Bachelor of Business and Commerce and Bachelor of Professional Communication
  • 4075 Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling and Diploma of Community Services (Alcohol, Other Drugs and Mental Health)
  • 4076 Bachelor of Community Welfare and Counselling and Diploma of Disability
  • 0116 Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Arts
  • 3281 Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering and Bachelor of Arts
  • 1945 Bachelor of Professional Communication and Diploma of Professional Writing