Postgraduate Module Descriptor

PHLM010: Introduction to Philosophical Methods

This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.

Module Aims

The module aims to introduce you to a range of different philosophical methods. It also aims to encourage you to engage critically with those methods and learn how to apply these methods in your own research.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here - you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.
On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills	1. Understand a range of different methods for approaching philosophical problems 2. Analyse and evaluate those methods in a rigorous, informed and critical way 3. Learn to employ a range of different methods in your own philosophical work
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. Appreciate the diversity of different methods used in philosophical research 5. Critically and rigorously evaluate a range of different philosophical styles and approaches 6. Reflect critically upon the relationship between philosophy and other disciplines
Personal and Key Skills	7. Engage in complex arguments verbally and in small groups 8. Critically engage with written texts in a clear and rigorous way 9. Present complex ideas to peers and respond to questions in a clear and respectful manner

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:

Conceptual analysis
Naturalism
Phenomenology
Genealogy
Experimental philosophy
Historical, sociological and ethnographic approaches

Learning and Teaching

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

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
22	278	0

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

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	22	The module will be taught as a series of 11 x two-hour seminars, organised around open-ended discussion of pre-assigned readings.
Guided independent study	66	11 x 6 hours for seminar readings
Guided independent study	8	Preparation of seminar presentation
Guided Independent Study	4	Preparation of formative essay
Guided Independent study	100	Reading for and writing of essay 1
Guided Independent Study	100	Reading for and writing of essay 1

Online Resources

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

Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy: https://www.rep.routledge.com/

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy: http://plato.stanford.edu