Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL2054: Philosophy of Psychiatry

This module descriptor refers to the 2020/1 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics

1. What is psychiatry?

2. What is mental illness?

3. Issues in psychiatric diagnosis

4. Mental illness, moral responsibility and the boundaries of the person

5. Religion, society and pathology

6. Schizophrenia and psychosis

7. Hearing voices

8. Delusions and the nature of belief

9. Depression: philosophical issues

10. Addiction and the will

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
221280

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities1111 x 1 hour lectures. Lectures provide you with detailed overview and analysis of debates and positions in the philosophy of psychiatry.
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities1111 x 1 hour seminars. Seminars build on the content of the lectures and involve free-flowing yet guided debate between students. Each student, as part of their formative assessment, will be asked in one of the seminars to deliver a 10 minute presentation that will serve to promote class discussion.
Guided Independent Study44Preparation for lectures and seminars
Guided Independent Study84ndependent research for presentation and coursework essay

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).