Undergraduate Module Descriptor

PHL2011A: The Philosophy of Nature 1

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

Module Aims

Philosophy began as a 'philosophy of nature' with the cosmological metaphysics of Presocratic thinkers such as Thales and Heraclitus. Modern Science was born of a revolution in the metaphysics of nature and Modern Philosophy can be conceived as a response to this revolution. The self-understanding of what it means to be human (i.e., of human nature) with all its moral, practical and theoretical implications, has been variable with very different understandings of the relationship of humans to nature. This module aims to improve your understanding of 'the philosophy of nature' as a fundamental philosophical concern by providing an overarching critical reconstruction of the different phases of Western understandings of nature. It also aims to introduce you to political and normative implications of philosophical understandings of nature 'nature', and invites you to reflect on your own presuppositions in dealing with the natural world.

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 the basic concepts and problems in the philosophy of nature past and present; 2. philosophically analyse the ways in which these problems have been addressed by past and contemporary philosophers; 3. know how to critically analyse concepts and arguments that make reference to nature, and how to expose their ethical and ideological foundations;
Discipline-Specific Skills	4. make explicit underlying assumptions about nature that are often uncritically presupposed in other areas of philosophy, the sciences and the humanities; 5. assess how concepts such as 'nature' change over time and across cultures, and reflect on the reasons for such changes;
Personal and Key Skills	6. develop ideas and construct arguments and critically evaluate the ideas and arguments of others; 7. question received wisdom; and 8. critically examine texts, and to write cogent and convincing essays.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

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

1. Introduction: The Meaning of Nature
2. Philosophy of Nature: A Historical Overview
3. Matter and Form
4. Causation and Agency
5. Mechanicism and Organicism
6. The Economy of Nature
7. Essence and Specificity
8. Chance and Necessity
9. Time and History
10. Substance and Process
11. Synoptic Summary

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
21.5	128.5	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	Weekly 1.5 hour lectures. The lectures will outline the philosophy of nature of a particular period or philosopher. Lecture notes and reading lists will be available through ELE for revision
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity	5	Fortnightly 1 hour seminars will involve reading of primary sources and discussion of prepared questions.
Guided independent study	28.5	Preparation for essay, library, research etc.
Guided independent study	100	Private study: Reading books and articles, and taking notes from them, as specified in reading lists for each seminar. Guidance on this will be provided through ELE and in the seminars.

Online Resources

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

Lecture notes and reading lists are made available through ELE.