Module: Philosophy Texts 2

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Philosophy Texts 2
Module Code	PHE1022 (ITS: TP234)
Faculty	Theology, Philosophy & Music	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

This module provides a close reading of Thomas Hobbes’s "Leviathan", focusing on aspects of his political, moral, and religious thought. Students will gain familiarity with both the intrinsic and the historical significance of one of the most important texts in Western political philosophy.

Learning Outcomes

1. engage in close analysis and interpretation of an important philosophical text;
2. comprehend central issues and themes in the history of Western philosophy;
3. situate and assess these issues and themes in their wider historical and cultural context;
4. construct their own arguments in discussion, and present arguments and ideas in written form;
5. synthesize a relevant range of key philosophical concepts and interpretations to form a coherent overview.

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

Section Breakdown
CRN	20875	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Ian Leask	Module Teacher	Peter Larsen

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	n/a	100%	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	None
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

Study of the early modern context of Hobbes’s thought, including 17th century political and religious discourse

Conceptions of the human being in Leviathan and the early modern period

Influence of aspects of Hobbes on later thinkers, up to today

Debates around interpretations of Hobbes’s work

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Thos. Hobbes: 0, Leviathan (ed. Tuck),
Richard Tuck: 2002, Hobbes: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford UP,
Tom Sorrell (ed.): 1996, Cambridge Companion to Hobbes,
D. Garber & M.Ayers (eds): 1998, Cambridge History of Seventeenth-Century Philosophy, vol.1,

Articles:

Terence Ball: 1985, “Hobbes’ Linguistic Turn”, Polity, 17/4, 56372
2002: Hobbes' Atheism, Midwest Studies in Philosophy, 26,

Other Resources

None