units

ATS3882

Faculty of Arts

18 September 2017 26 April 2024
Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2014 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Arts
Organisational UnitPhilosophy
OfferedClayton Second semester 2014 (Day)
Coordinator(s)Professor Graham Oppy

Notes

Previously coded PHL3690

Synopsis

Metaphysics studies the fundamental nature of reality, and this unit is designed to introduce all philosophy students to the major debates and issues in this broad area of philosophy. From semester to semester, the particular topics of focus may change, but will be drawn from the following: 1. Ontological commitment; Abstract objects; Modality; Composition and identity; Persistence through time; Causation; Dispositions and dispositional theories of value; Supervenience, reduction and levels in nature; Fundamentality.

Outcomes

Students completing this unit will:

  1. Have acquired sophisticated bibliographic skills which allow them to identify additional relevant contributions to philosophical problems in metaphysics.
  2. Be able to understand the use of logical notation commonly used in contemporary metaphysics (set theoretic symbols, modal operators)
  3. Be able to accurately summarise and succinctly evaluate articles written for professional philosophy journals in an in-class presentation.
  4. Within parameters that provide some initial guidance, be able to frame a more specific research question and address that question effectively in a longer essay.
  5. Have some acquaintance with the history of metaphysics and a deeper acquaintance with some particular debates of contemporary research focus.
  6. Have a highly developed understanding of the norms of philosophical writing.
  7. Have a highly developed understanding of the norms of philosophical discussion.

Assessment

Written work: 100% (4500 words)

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Graham Oppy

Workload requirements

2.5 hours (one x 90 minute lecture and one x 1 hour tutorial) per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Philosophy

Prerequisites

12 points of 2-level philosophy units.