Module PHL1009 for 2021/2
- Overview
- Aims and Learning Outcomes
- Module Content
- Indicative Reading List
- Assessment
Undergraduate Module Descriptor
PHL1009: Philosophies of Art
This module descriptor refers to the 2021/2 academic year.
Module Content
Syllabus Plan
The module has two main parts: the first part looks at theories from the history of philosophy concerning the nature and status of art, while the second explores some individual philosophical problems arising in the field of aesthetics.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 themes:
Theories of art:
- Art as representation
- Art as expression
- The institutional theory of art
Philosophical problems in Aesthetics:
- Hume’s critique of taste
- Forgery
- Emotional responses to fictional characters
- The paradox of tragedy
- Humour and the morality of art
- Beauty and the natural environment
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 27.5 | 122.5 | 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 activity | 16.5 | 11 x 1.5-hour seminars (lecturers explanations, student participation and discussion) |
| Scheduled Learning an | 11 | 11 x 1 hour seminar |
| Guided Independent Study | 122.5 | A variety of reading and private study activities guided by the module leader. These tasks may include: Reading assignments (40 hours) Formative assessment preparation, including research and writing (20 hours) Essay preparation, including literature review, research, and writing (30 hours) Revision and exam preparation (30 hours) |
Online Resources
This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).
Stanford Encyclopedia: http://plato.stanford.edu/index.html
PhilPapers online database of philosophical papers: http://www.philpapers.org
How this Module is Assessed
In the tables below, you will see reference to 'ILO's. An ILO is an Intended Learning Outcome - see Aims and Learning Outcomes for details of the ILOs for this module.
Formative Assessment
A formative assessment is designed to give you feedback on your understanding of the module content but it will not count towards your mark for the module.
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| One 400 word written report on seminar reading | 400 words | 1,2,5,6 | written |
Summative Assessment
A summative assessment counts towards your mark for the module. The table below tells you what percentage of your mark will come from which type of assessment.
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | 70 | 0 |
...and this table provides further details on the summative assessments for this module.
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 30 | 1500 words | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | Written and oral |
| Exam | 70 | 90 minutes | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | written |
Re-assessment
Re-assessment takes place when the summative assessment has not been completed by the original deadline, and the student has been allowed to refer or defer it to a later date (this only happens following certain criteria and is always subject to exam board approval). For obvious reasons, re-assessments cannot be the same as the original assessment and so these alternatives are set. In cases where the form of assessment is the same, the content will nevertheless be different.
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay (1500 words) | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | August/September reassessment period |
| Examination | Examination (90 minutes) | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative Reading List
This reading list is indicative - i.e. it provides an idea of texts that may be useful to you on this module, but it is not considered to be a confirmed or compulsory reading list for this module.
Basic reading:
Plato, ‘Republic, III & X’,
Beardsley, M.C. ‘Intentions and Interpretations: A Fallacy Revived’
Hume, D. ‘Of the standard of taste’,
Walton, K. ‘Fearing Fictions’,
Scruton, R. ‘Understanding Music’,
Lamarque, P. ‘Tragedy and Moral Value’,
Gaut, B. ‘The Ethical Criticism of Art’,
