Module: Contemporary Philosophy

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Contemporary Philosophy
Module Code	PHE1010 (ITS: PHIL6)
Faculty	Humanities & Social Sciences	School	Theology, Philosophy & Music
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	15

Description

Philosophy continues to have a powerful influence on contemporary society and thinking, often without its influence being recognised by those on whom it has an impact. This module explores some of the major individuals and schools of thought in this respect, from Hegel and Heidegger to Beauvoir, Levinas and Derrida. Students on this module complete a dissertation on a specialised topic and/or philosopher instead of a final examination.

Learning Outcomes

1. Evaluate the central tenets of some of the mainstreams movements in twentieth century European Philosophy
2. Critique the characteristic approaches of late 19th and 20th century philosophies to the main philosophical problems of the time
3. Compare the main methods of contemporary philosophical inquiry to their predecessors
4. Assess late 19th century analysis and its relevance in more contemporary philosophy
5. Discriminate between various types of philosophical methods that were deployed in the development of phenomenology
6. Synthesise different definitions of phenomenology through an investigation of alternatives proposed in, for example: Heidegger's hermeneutic phenomenology; Merleau-Ponty's existential phenomenology; Derrida's deconstruction of phenomenology; Lévinas's ethical phenomenology of 'the other'
7. Carry out an original extended essay which complies with professional standards and conventions

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Tutorial	15	No Description
Online activity	60	No Description
Independent Study	300	No Description
Total Workload: 375

Section Breakdown
CRN	11728	Part of Term	Semester 1 & 2
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Fiachra O'Brolchain	Module Teacher	Bláithin Duggan, Shirley Anne O'Brien

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	n/a	10%	n/a
Essay	n/a	20%	n/a
Extended Essay / Dissertation	n/a	70%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	H,
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

PART 1: HEGEL

Unit 1: Hegel: An Introduction

Unit 2: Hegel and Geist

Unit 3: Hegel - The Philosophy of Right

PART 2: DISCOURSE AND POWER

Unit 4: Discourse and Power: Introduction

Unit 5: Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900)

Unit 6: Jurgen Habermas (B. 1929)

Unit 7: Michel Foucault (1926-1984)

Unit 8: Simone de Beauvoir (1908-1986)

Unit 9: Julia Kristeva (B. 1941)

Unit 10: Luce Irigaray (B. 1930)

PART 3: PHENOMENOLOGY, HERMENEUTICS AND DECONSTRUCTION

Unit 11: Husserl: The Founder of Phenomenology

Unit 12: Husserl's Transcendental Phenomenology

Unit 13: Heidegger's Hermeneutical Phenomenology

Unit 14: Gadamer's Hermeneutics

Unit 15: Merleau-Ponty's Phenomenology of the Body-Subject

Unit 16: Emmanuel Levinas: The Phenomenology of the Other

Unit 17: Derrida and Deconstruction - Part 1

Unit 18: Derrida and Deconstruction - Part 2

PART 4: LONERGAN AND KANT

Unit 19: Moments of Understanding

Unit 20: The Questioning Mind

Unit 21: Image, Question, Insight, Proposition

Unit 22: Judgement

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Gadamer, Hans Georg: 1992, Philosophical Hermeneutics, University of California Press, Berkeley,
Hegel, G.W.F: 1991, Elements of the Philosophy of Right, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
Hegel, G.W.F: 2012, The Phenomenology of Mind, Allen and Unwin, London,
Kant, Immanuel: 2006, Critique of Pure Reason, Penguin, Harmondsworth,
Kearney, Richard: 2012, Continental philosophy in the twentieth century, Routledge, London,
Kearney, Richard: 1994, Modern Movements in European Philosophy, Second, Manchester University Press, Manchester,
Kearney, Richard and Rainwater, Mara: 1995, The Continental Philosophy Reader, Routledge, London,
Nietzsche, Friedrich: 2008, Beyond Good and Evil: Prelude to a Philosophy of the Future, Penguin, Harmondsworth,
Taylor, C: 1975, Hegel, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge,
0: Please see moodle for other readings and online resources.,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None