Module: Metaphysics: An Historical Survey

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Metaphysics: An Historical Survey
Module Code	TP236 (ITS) / PHE1040 (Banner)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Theology, Philosophy & Music
Module Co-ordinator	Ian Leask
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	7.5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None

Description

An introduction to central topics in the field, covering issues such as: Being, identity, freewill and necessity, universals and particulars.

Learning Outcomes

1. engage in close analysis of philosophical texts
2. articulate and assess some key areas in the field
3. synthesize a range of concepts to form a coherent overview
4. comprehend and compare a range of different views in the field

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	22	No Description
Independent Study	103	No Description
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

what is metaphysics?
consideration of the scope and validity of the topic itself

Causation
What is a cause? What is an effect? What does it mean for one thing to cause something else? How have Western philosophers approached these questions?

Freedom
What is freedom and free-choice? How do these differ from determinism? How have Western philosophers approached these questions?

Necessity
What does it mean for something to be necessary rather than contingent? Are these descriptions 'real' - or only logical? How have these questions been approached?

Identity
How does something retain its identity over time? How much change is required to disperse identity? How have these issues been approached in Western philosophy?

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Essay	n/a	100%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

E.J.Lowe: 2002, A Survey of Metaphysics, Oxford UP,
J.W.Carroll & N.Markosian: 2010, An Introduction to Metaphysics, Cambridge UP,
G.Watson (ed.): 2003, Free Will, Oxford UP,

Other Resources

None