General Information
This subject serves as an introduction to philosophy. It will consider a range of philosophical issues such as the mind-body problem, the existence of God, the nature of truth and reality, free-will and determinism. Students will also be introduced to the works of some of the major philosophers.
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Details
Academic unit: Faculty of Society & Design Subject code: PHIL11-101 Subject title: Introduction to Philosophy Subject level: Undergraduate Semester/Year: January 2019 Credit points: 10.000 -
Delivery & attendance
Timetable: https://bond.edu.au/timetable Delivery mode: Standard Workload items: - Lecture: x12 (Total hours: 24) - Weekly Lecture
- Tutorial: x12 (Total hours: 12) - Weekly Tutorial
- Personal Study Hours: x12 (Total hours: 84) - Recommended Study Hours
Attendance and learning activities: -
Resources
Prescribed resources: No Prescribed resources.
After enrolment, students can check the Books and Tools area in iLearn for the full Resource List.iLearn@Bond & Email: iLearn@Bond is the online learning environment at Bond University and is used to provide access to subject materials, lecture recordings and detailed subject information regarding the subject curriculum, assessment and timing. Both iLearn and the Student Email facility are used to provide important subject notifications. Additionally, official correspondence from the University will be forwarded to students’ Bond email account and must be monitored by the student. To access these services, log on to the Student Portal from the Bond University website as www.bond.edu.au
| Academic unit: | Faculty of Society & Design |
|---|---|
| Subject code: | PHIL11-101 |
| Subject title: | Introduction to Philosophy |
| Subject level: | Undergraduate |
| Semester/Year: | January 2019 |
| Credit points: | 10.000 |
| Timetable: | https://bond.edu.au/timetable |
|---|---|
| Delivery mode: | Standard |
| Workload items: |
|
| Attendance and learning activities: |
| Prescribed resources: | No Prescribed resources. After enrolment, students can check the Books and Tools area in iLearn for the full Resource List. |
|---|---|
| iLearn@Bond & Email: | iLearn@Bond is the online learning environment at Bond University and is used to provide access to subject materials, lecture recordings and detailed subject information regarding the subject curriculum, assessment and timing. Both iLearn and the Student Email facility are used to provide important subject notifications. Additionally, official correspondence from the University will be forwarded to students’ Bond email account and must be monitored by the student. To access these services, log on to the Student Portal from the Bond University website as www.bond.edu.au |
Enrolment requirements
| Requisites: |
Nil |
|---|---|
| Assumed knowledge: |
Assumed knowledge is the minimum level of knowledge of a subject area that students are assumed to have acquired through previous study. It is the responsibility of students to ensure they meet the assumed knowledge expectations of the subject. Students who do not possess this prior knowledge are strongly recommended against enrolling and do so at their own risk. No concessions will be made for students’ lack of prior knowledge.
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| Restrictions: |
Nil |
Assurance of learning
Assurance of Learning means that universities take responsibility for creating, monitoring and updating curriculum, teaching and assessment so that students graduate with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need for employability and/or further study.
At Bond University, we carefully develop subject and program outcomes to ensure that student learning in each subject contributes to the whole student experience. Students are encouraged to carefully read and consider subject and program outcomes as combined elements.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Program Learning Outcomes provide a broad and measurable set of standards that incorporate a range of knowledge and skills that will be achieved on completion of the program. If you are undertaking this subject as part of a degree program, you should refer to the relevant degree program outcomes and graduate attributes as they relate to this subject.
Subject Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject the learner will be able to:
- Demonstrate a familiarity with some of the major thinkers of the West and their ideas.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the role of philosophy in coming to a fuller understanding of the world and one's place in it.
- Demonstrate an understanding of and familiarity with the abstract concepts with which philosophy is concerned.
- Demonstrate a familiarity with the use of standard methods of conceptual and argument analysis.
Generative Artificial Intelligence in Assessment
The University acknowledges that Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen-AI) tools are an important facet of contemporary life. Their use in assessment is considered in line with students’ development of the skills and knowledge which demonstrate learning outcomes and underpin study and career success. Instructions on the use of Gen-AI are given for each assessment task; it is your responsibility to adhere to these instructions.
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Assessment details
Type Task % Timing* Outcomes assessed Essay Assignment One. A 1500 word essay. 30.00% Week 6 1,2,3,4 Essay Assignment Two. A 1500 word essay. 30.00% Week 9 1,2,3,4 Essay Assignment Three. A 1500 word essay. 30.00% Week 13 1,2,3,4 *Class Participation n/a 10.00% Ongoing 1,2,3,4 - * Assessment timing is indicative of the week that the assessment is due or begins (where conducted over multiple weeks), and is based on the standard University academic calendar
- C = Students must reach a level of competency to successfully complete this assessment.
Pass requirement
50% overall in 3 essays and 10 tutorials
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Assessment criteria
Assessment criteria
High Distinction 85-100 Outstanding or exemplary performance in the following areas: interpretative ability; intellectual initiative in response to questions; mastery of the skills required by the subject, general levels of knowledge and analytic ability or clear thinking. Distinction 75-84 Usually awarded to students whose performance goes well beyond the minimum requirements set for tasks required in assessment, and who perform well in most of the above areas. Credit 65-74 Usually awarded to students whose performance is considered to go beyond the minimum requirements for work set for assessment. Assessable work is typically characterised by a strong performance in some of the capacities listed above. Pass 50-64 Usually awarded to students whose performance meets the requirements set for work provided for assessment. Fail 0-49 Usually awarded to students whose performance is not considered to meet the minimum requirements set for particular tasks. The fail grade may be a result of insufficient preparation, of inattention to assignment guidelines or lack of academic ability. A frequent cause of failure is lack of attention to subject or assignment guidelines. Quality assurance
For the purposes of quality assurance, Bond University conducts an evaluation process to measure and document student assessment as evidence of the extent to which program and subject learning outcomes are achieved. Some examples of student work will be retained for potential research and quality auditing purposes only. Any student work used will be treated confidentially and no student grades will be affected.
| Type | Task | % | Timing* | Outcomes assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Assignment One. A 1500 word essay. | 30.00% | Week 6 | 1,2,3,4 |
| Essay | Assignment Two. A 1500 word essay. | 30.00% | Week 9 | 1,2,3,4 |
| Essay | Assignment Three. A 1500 word essay. | 30.00% | Week 13 | 1,2,3,4 |
| *Class Participation | n/a | 10.00% | Ongoing | 1,2,3,4 |
- * Assessment timing is indicative of the week that the assessment is due or begins (where conducted over multiple weeks), and is based on the standard University academic calendar
- C = Students must reach a level of competency to successfully complete this assessment.
Pass requirement
50% overall in 3 essays and 10 tutorials
Assessment criteria
| High Distinction | 85-100 | Outstanding or exemplary performance in the following areas: interpretative ability; intellectual initiative in response to questions; mastery of the skills required by the subject, general levels of knowledge and analytic ability or clear thinking. |
|---|---|---|
| Distinction | 75-84 | Usually awarded to students whose performance goes well beyond the minimum requirements set for tasks required in assessment, and who perform well in most of the above areas. |
| Credit | 65-74 | Usually awarded to students whose performance is considered to go beyond the minimum requirements for work set for assessment. Assessable work is typically characterised by a strong performance in some of the capacities listed above. |
| Pass | 50-64 | Usually awarded to students whose performance meets the requirements set for work provided for assessment. |
| Fail | 0-49 | Usually awarded to students whose performance is not considered to meet the minimum requirements set for particular tasks. The fail grade may be a result of insufficient preparation, of inattention to assignment guidelines or lack of academic ability. A frequent cause of failure is lack of attention to subject or assignment guidelines. |
Quality assurance
For the purposes of quality assurance, Bond University conducts an evaluation process to measure and document student assessment as evidence of the extent to which program and subject learning outcomes are achieved. Some examples of student work will be retained for potential research and quality auditing purposes only. Any student work used will be treated confidentially and no student grades will be affected.
Study Information
Submission procedures
Students must check the iLearn@Bond subject site for detailed assessment information and submission procedures.
Policy on late submission and extensions
A late penalty will be applied to all overdue assessment tasks unless an extension is granted by the subject coordinator. The standard penalty will be 10% of marks awarded to that assessment per day late with no assessment to be accepted seven days after the due date. Where a student is granted an extension, the penalty of 10% per day late starts from the new due date.
Academic Integrity
University’s Academic Integrity Policy defines plagiarism as the act of misrepresenting as one’s own original work: another’s ideas, interpretations, words, or creative works; and/or one’s own previous ideas, interpretations, words, or creative work without acknowledging that it was used previously (i.e., self-plagiarism). The University considers the act of plagiarising to be a breach of the Student Conduct Code and, therefore, subject to the Discipline Regulations which provide for a range of penalties including the reduction of marks or grades, fines and suspension from the University.
Bond University utilises Originality Reporting software to inform academic integrity.Feedback on assessment
Feedback on assessment will be provided to students within two weeks of the assessment submission due date, as per the Assessment Policy.
Accessibility and Inclusion Support
If you have a disability, illness, injury or health condition that impacts your capacity to complete studies, exams or assessment tasks, it is important you let us know your special requirements, early in the semester. Students will need to make an application for support and submit it with recent, comprehensive documentation at an appointment with a Disability Officer. Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Office at the earliest possible time, to meet staff and learn about the services available to meet your specific needs. Please note that late notification or failure to disclose your disability can be to your disadvantage as the University cannot guarantee support under such circumstances.
Additional subject information
Subject curriculum
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Week 1a: The Socratic Way
The origin of Western philosophy in the methodologically disciplined thought of Socrates. Consideration of the question of what philosophy is.
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Week 1b: Methods and Interests
Further consideration of the nature of philosophy: its methods and its subject matter. Its relationship to other ways of knowing.
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Week 2a: Deductive Arguments
A important class of arguments. How they work, when they are appropriate, how to recognise them. how to understand them, and how they may be critiqued. We deal with both propositional and syllogistic forms.
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Week 2b: The Problem of Evil
A classic example of a deductive argument for the non-existence of God. We apply some of the techniques from the section on deductive arguments to the critique of this argument.
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Week 3a: Inductive Arguments
The other important class of arguments. How they work, when they are appropriate, how to recognise them. how to understand them, and how they may be critiqued. We consider analogy, enumeration, and inference to best explanation.
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Week 3b: The Design Argument
A classic example of an inductive argument for the existence of God. We apply some of the techniques from the section on inductive arguments to the critique of this argument.
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Week 4a: Knowledge
What is knowledge? Is it true, justified belief? If it is, then what does it mean to be True, Justified, or a Belief?
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Week 4b: Skepticism
We consider the ways in which our ability to know - whatever may be meant by 'know' - is disputed by skeptics through the ages.
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Week 5a: Plato's Forms
Plato accepted the possibility of knowledge. His theory of knowledge was one of the earliest sophisticated epistemologies, but it involves huge metaphysical commitments. His 'Forms' are explained and the theory criticized.
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Week 5b: Rationalism
Some philosophers, like Plato, think that all real knowledge is independent of our experience of this particular world, but is available to us just in virtue of our nature as rational beings.
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Week 6a: Aristotle's Causes
Aristotle also accepted the possibility of knowledge but he rejected Plato's epistemology. We look at his view of the rational structure of knowledge and its source in our reason, intuitions, and experiences.
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Week 6b: Empiricism
Some philosophers think that all knowledge derives from the senses. We look at the commitments that such a view may drive them to. Are mathematical truths, for example, dependent upon our experiences?
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Week 7a: Cartesian Dualism
How does Mind relate to the Body? An intuitively appealing idea is that the mind directs the body like a driver directs a car. We look at Descartes's efforts to support and to make sense of this point of view.
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Week 7b: Behaviourism
If the dualist theory won't work, perhaps we can just eliminate the idea of there being any actual mental objects. When we talk of thoughts, beliefs, concepts and so on are we really just talking about behaviours?
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Week 8a: Causal Functionalism
The current consensus is that there are such things as thoughts, beliefs, concepts, and so on, but that they should be seen as functions of the brain. We look at how that might be made sense of.
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Week 8b: Computational Functionalism
One popular theory now is that the mind is a computer and the physical functions which create it are essentially computations. We look at what that might really mean, and whether it is even plausible.
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Week 9a1: Ethical Relativism
A very popular attitude to ethical questions these days is that what is good or bad is so only relative to your culture. We look at the arguments for this, and at the consequences if it were true.
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Week 9a2: Ethical Egoism
Another popular attitude to ethical questions is to deny that they can require you to do anything which is not in your own interest. What are the various ways in which this can be understood? Can any of them be defended?
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Week 9b: Virtue Ethics
The standard ancient view of ethics saw it as being concerned with being the right (virtuous) kind of person. We look at Aristotle's version of this. How do we define virtues, and how are they given moral significance?
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Week 10a: Utilitarianism
One of the two dominant modern styles of ethics. What is good is what results in the greatest happiness for the greatest number. We look at whether that make sense or agrees with our intuitions about goodness.
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Week 10b: Kantian Deontology
The other dominant modern style of ethics. We must do our duty according to the universal law that applies to all rational beings. We look at Kant's arguments for and explanations of this claim.
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Week 11a: Personal Identity
What makes you now the same person as you at some other time? We look at bodily continuity and psychological continuity as possible criteria of identity.
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Week 11b: Free Will
Do we have Free Will? First, what would it even mean to have Free Will? Is Free Will possible in a universe which may be deterministic?
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Week 12a: Sartre on the Authentic Life
We look at Sartre's existentialism, his defence of Free Will, and his insistence that we live the 'authentic' life which this freedom makes possible.
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Week 12b: The Meaning of Life
What's it all about? What does the question mean? Does understanding the question help with the answer?