Module:

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

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Module Title
Module Code	(ITS: TP236)
Faculty		School
NFQ level		Credit Rating

Description

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

Learning Outcomes

1. 1E37A56B-0B10-0001-766D-1D3070F01B50
2. engage in close analysis of philosophical texts
4. 7,11,9,10
5. 1
6. 1E37A56B-16F6-0001-847B-3E8C16D52CC0
7. articulate and assess some key areas in the field
9. 7,6,11,9
10. 2
11. 1E37A56B-24E5-0001-6621-3930CFFF1671
12. synthesize a range of concepts to form a coherent overview
14. 7,6,11,9,10
15. 3
16. 1E37A56B-31E2-0001-3FE5-162913E01828
17. comprehend and compare a range of different views in the field
19. 7,6,11,9,10
20. 4

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

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

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?

Indicative Reading List

Books:

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,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None