PHIL305-21S2 (C) Semester Two 2021

Paradoxes

30 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 19 July 2021
End Date: Sunday, 14 November 2021
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 1 August 2021
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Friday, 1 October 2021

Description

This course surveys a wide range of paradoxes and bizarre brain-twisters drawn from all corners of philosophy.

This course takes a tour through some of the many mind-bending paradoxes and brainteasers that philosophers have come up with over the centuries. Along the way we touch on topics drawn from epistemology, the philosophy of mind, logic, and other fields. It is a seminar course – which means that it will be based around student presentations.

Not only is philosophy one of the most interesting and challenging subjects, it teaches skills that employers want: thinking outside the box, logic, ethics, and excellent writing and communication skills. At UC you can do either a BA or a BSc in Philosophy, or combine a Philosophy major with the LLB, BCom, or another degree.

BA or BSc students who major in philosophy must normally take at least two 100-level PHIL courses, plus at least three 200-level PHIL courses (including PHIL233), plus at least 60-points from 300-level PHIL courses (including at least one course from this list: PHIL305; PHIL310; PHIL311; and PHIL317). For more information see the BA regulations and/or the BSc regulations.

Learning Outcomes

1.  Familiarity with a set of famous and important philosophical paradoxes.

2.  An understanding of fundamental issues and concepts in epistemology, metaphysics, probability theory, and the philosophy of mind.

3.  Experience in designing and delivering a verbal presentation.

4.  An ability to write a short essay that explains key philosophical positions in a given area, summarizes the principal arguments for and against each position, and defends one position against its rivals.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

Prerequisites

Any 30 points at 200 level in PHIL, COSC, or
MATH, or
any 60 points at 200 level from the Schedule V of the BA or BSc.

Restrictions

PHIL494, PHIL444

Course Coordinator

Jack Copeland

Contact Jack for further information.

Course links

Library portal
Philosophy Essay Writing Guide (available to all enrolled Philosophy students)

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,570.00

International fee $7,000.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Humanities .

All PHIL305 Occurrences

  • PHIL305-21S2 (C) Semester Two 2021