Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL1005A: Evidence and Argument 1

This module descriptor refers to the 2023/4 academic year.

Overview

NQF Level 4
Credits 15 ECTS Value 7.5
Term(s) and duration

This module ran during term 1 (11 weeks)

Academic staff

Dr Edward Skidelsky (Convenor)

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Available via distance learning

No

Philosophers try to think rationally about the most general and abstract questions; for this reason, they spend a lot of time constructing and criticising arguments. This module introduces you to the basic principles of argumentative reasoning; you will investigate what makes a good or a bad argument, and how to distinguish one from the other. This is an essential skill not only in science and philosophy, but also in politics and everyday life.

Consisting of a mixture of theory and practical exercises, this module will teach you the tools and skills necessary for analysing, evaluating and constructing arguments. You will learn to analyse texts taken from philosophy and the social sciences, assess the validity of arguments, identify the most common forms of pseudo-reasoning and evaluate the use of evidence in empirical science.

This module is suitable for all students in philosophy and other social science disciplines. No prior knowledge is required.

Module created

01/10/2006

Last revised

29/04/2022