ATS3882 - Metaphysics - 2017

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.

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.

Within semester assessment: 100%

Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. A unit requires on average three/four hours of scheduled activities per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

See also Unit timetable information

Professor Graham Oppy

Philosophy

A cornerstone unit in Philosophy.