Courses - Faculty of Arts
Philosophy
Stage I
Mind, Knowledge, and Reality
Metaphysics deals with fundamental problems about the nature of the world and human beings, for example, questions about the existence of God, the nature of time, the relationship between mind and body and the nature of identity and the self. The theory of knowledge studies the sources, limits and justification of human knowledge and understanding as distinct from opinion or belief.
Introduction to Logic
Logic is the study of argument. This course aims to provide an understanding of central logical notions, such as consistency and inconsistency, logical truth, and, most importantly, what it means for an argument to be valid or invalid, sound or unsound. The course examines two main logical systems, propositional and predicate logic, and shows how these formal systems are used to analyse and evaluate arguments.
Ethics and Justice
How should we live? And how do we live well together? This course examines practical questions of ethics and justice at the personal, professional, social and global levels. The course reflects on these topics in the light of philosophical theories about justice, liberty, rights, and different approaches to ethics that emphasise roles, rules, virtues and consequences.
Critical Thinking
An introduction to reasoning, argument, and explanation that emphasises the development of practical skills and their use in everyday life. The course introduces different forms of reasoning and explains techniques to evaluate them. It will enable students to distinguish good arguments and explanations from bad ones, to explain the difference, and thereby to improve critical thinking abilities.
Stage II
Philosophy of Mind
There are many philosophical problems concerning mental lives (in particular, human mental lives), how they are constituted, and what makes them possible – problems which have generated a vast literature and diverse important philosophical theories. Theories introduced and critically examined will include dualisms, but will mainly comprise forms of physicalism such as philosophical behaviourism, the identity theory and especially functionalist theories.
Prerequisite: 30 points in Philosophy or 60 points
Restriction: PHIL 320
Greek Philosophy
An introduction to some of the important figures in ancient philosophy and the issues with which they were concerned. The work of the Presocratics, Plato, and Aristotle will be explored, with a detailed discussion of the philosophical system of either Plato or Aristotle and its importance in the history of philosophy.
Prerequisite: 60 points from BA courses at Stage I
Community, Society and Rights
Addresses a variety of topics in political philosophy such as: the political theories of Locke and Hobbes; the nature of rights and rights-holders; sovereignty; strategies for securing stable and just societies between people with significantly different moral, political and cultural views; and the relationship between individuals and communities. Topics will be related to contemporary political issues in New Zealand and, in particular, to the Treaty of Waitangi.
Prerequisite: 30 points in Global Politics and Human Rights, Philosophy or Politics and International Relations
Philosophy of Religion
A study of the relationship between reason and faith; is belief in the Judaeo-Christian God reasonable? Topics include: the problem of evil, the meaningfulness of religious language, alternative concepts of God, Hume on miracles, and Kierkegaard and William James on faith and reason.
Prerequisite: 30 points in Philosophy
Restriction: PHIL 327
19th-Century European Philosophy
Examines key figures in nineteenth-century European philosophy, including Arthur Schopenhauer, Friedrich Nietzsche, Søren Kierkegaard, and Karl Marx. Considers alternative reactions to the human condition, either by minimising suffering and seeking tranquillity, by embracing the pain that life contains and continuing to struggle for greatness, by aiming to experience one’s true individuality, or by working to establish a non-exploitative social community.
Prerequisite: 30 points in Philosophy or EUROPEAN 100 and 15 points in Philosophy
Restriction: PHIL 329
Applied Ethics
Philosophical analysis and discussion of contemporary moral issues, such as abortion, euthanasia, reverse discrimination, sex work, punishment and the ethics of charity.
Prerequisite: PHIL 102 or 104, or 30 points in Philosophy, or 30 points at Stage I in Social Science for Public Health
Restriction: PHIL 313
Philosophy of the Arts
Considers a range of issues debated by contemporary philosophers concerning the origins, function, definition, ontology, presentation, interpretation, appreciation, expressiveness, representational character, and value of art. Related and applied topics, such as the status of colourised movies, the status of artistic fakes, and the paradox of our enjoying tragedies are also discussed.
Prerequisite: 30 points in Philosophy or 90 points
Restriction: PHIL 332
Modal Logic
An introduction to modal logic, which is a variation of the system of predicate logic studied in PHIL 101. Modal logic is well-suited for studying philosophically important concepts such as necessity, time, knowledge, vagueness, action and obligation. It is also used in computer science for studying the behaviour of programs and is recommended as preparation for studying logic at Stage III.
Prerequisite: PHIL 101
Philosophy of Law
Themes in contemporary Western philosophy of law, relating to debates between liberal and non-liberal conceptions of law, including questions about the nature of legal rules, legal reasons and the relationship between law and morality. Major positions in legal theory will be covered, from legal positivism to critical legal studies.
Prerequisite: 30 points in Philosophy or 90 points
Restriction: PHIL 337
Problems in Epistemology
Epistemology is the study of knowledge, rationality, belief and related topics. This course will give an overview of epistemology but will focus on three main issues: foundationalism versus coherentism, internalism versus externalism and replies to scepticism.
Prerequisite: 30 points in Philosophy
Restriction: PHIL 338
Intermediate Logic
Natural deduction for propositional and predicate logic; introductory metalogic and related topics in formal logic.
Prerequisite: PHIL 101
Restriction: PHIL 201
Power, Critique and Emancipation
What is power? When are relations of power are legitimate and illegitimate? How is power structured in the modern world? How can illegitimate structures of power can be resisted and reordered to promote justice and human flourishing? This course examines and analyses cultural, economic, political and epistemic structures of power, including gender, race, and class.
Prerequisite: 30 points in Philosophy or 60 points passed
Restriction: PHIL 345
Philosophy and the Environment
Philosophical questions relating to the environment and our use of it, such as the following: Do we have obligations to future generations, especially concerning preservation of the environment? What are our moral and epistemic responsibilities regarding climate change and other environmental issues? Does nature have intrinsic value? Is it better to live in a natural world or a virtual world.
Prerequisite: 30 points in Philosophy or 60 points
Restriction: PHIL 351
Philosophy of Science
Addresses philosophical questions about science, such as: What distinguishes science from pseudoscience? How is scientific knowledge generated and structured? Should we believe scientific claims about things we cannot directly observe? Do scientific theories give us true accounts of the world? Examines philosophical accounts of science and cases from historical and contemporary scientific research. A background in science is not expected.
Prerequisite: 30 points in Philosophy or 60 points
Restriction: PHIL 360
Metaphysical Structures of the World
Metaphysics attempts to give a quite general picture of the nature and structure of the world, and particularly investigates philosophical problems which thereby arise. Science, common sense, religions and cultures all presuppose metaphysical worldviews. Traditional metaphysical problems concern laws, causation, time, space, substance, identity, attributes and universals, free will, reality, existence etc. Course topics will be selected from such traditional problems.
Prerequisite: 30 points in Philosophy or 60 points
Restriction: PHIL 361
Philosophy of Biology
Examines philosophical and conceptual issues in the life sciences. Topics may include the units and levels of selection, adaptationism, the evolution of altruism, biology and ethics, sociobiology and evolutionary psychology, cultural evolution, evolution versus creationism, and the origin and nature of life.
Prerequisite: 30 points in Philosophy or 60 points
Restriction: PHIL 363
Ethical Theory
Philosophical study of moral theory, in both normative ethics and meta-ethics. Topics covered may include: accounts of well-being such as hedonism, preference theory, and objectivism; theories of right action such as consequentialism and contractualism; the demandingness of morality; the role of intuitions in moral theory; and the status and justification of moral theories.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I in Philosophy or any 60 points passed from the BA or 30 points in Global Politics and Human Rights
Restriction: PHIL 368
Stage III
Directed Study
A directed reading and individual study course on a selected philosophical topic offered in exceptional circumstances, with the agreement and under the supervision of appropriate staff.
Prerequisite: B+ average or higher at Stage III in Philosophy and Academic Head approval
Philosophy for Children
Provides a thorough practical grounding in facilitation of philosophical communities of inquiry, and in the construction of materials to stimulate philosophical inquiry. Opportunities for classroom practice in co-operating primary schools will be provided to participants who are not classroom-based.
Prerequisite: 60 points in Philosophy
Restriction: PHIL 701
Medieval Philosophy
A detailed introduction to either the work of a leading medieval philosopher, for example Augustine, Abaelard, Scotus or Ockham, or to one or more of the topics which were of interest to medieval philosophers. The course aims to show how understanding medieval philosophy is essential for the history of Christian thought and philosophy up to modern times.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy, or EUROPEAN 100 and 15 points at Stage II in Philosophy
Language, Truth and Meaning
Examines the relationship between language, thought, and reality. Topics include the nature of existence and nonexistence; the linguistic turn in analytic philosophy; theories of reference, meaning, and truth; the relation between meaning, necessity, and the a priori; scepticism about meaning and reference. (PHIL 101 offers useful background, but the course is intended to be accessible to students without a formal background in logic.)
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy
Political Philosophy 3
Advanced topics in Political Philosophy.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Global Politics and Human Rights, Philosophy or Politics and International Relations
Special Topic
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy, or 30 points at Stage II in Social Science for Public Health
Restriction: PHIL 210
Topics in Applied Logic
A selection of topics in applied logic such as: modal logic (the logic of necessity and possibility), temporal logic (the logic of time), dynamic logic (the logic of change), and epistemic logic (the logic of knowledge and belief, including the logic of belief revision).
Prerequisite: 15 points from PHIL 222, 216 or 266
Philosophy of Mind
There are many philosophical problems concerning mental lives (in particular, human mental lives), how they are constituted, and what makes them possible – problems which have generated a vast literature and diverse important philosophical theories. Theories introduced and critically examined will include dualisms, but will mainly comprise forms of physicalism such as philosophical behaviourism, the identity theory and especially functionalist theories.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy or PHIL 260 and SCIGEN 201
Restriction: PHIL 200
Philosophy of Logic
An introduction to philosophical logic, covering topics such as: paradoxes, non-classical logic, language and logic, conditionals. Emphasis is put on a back and forth dialogue between the methodologies of logic and philosophy.
Prerequisite: PHIL 222 or 30 points at Stage II in Philosohpy
Philosophy of Religion
A study of the relationship between reason and faith; is belief in the Judaeo-Christian God reasonable? Topics include: the problem of evil, the meaningfulness of religious language, alternative concepts of God, Hume on miracles and Kierkegaard and William James on faith and reason.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy
Restriction: PHIL 207
Philosophy of the Arts
Considers a range of issues debated by contemporary philosophers concerning the origins, function, definition, ontology, presentation, interpretation, appreciation, expressiveness, representational character, and value of art. Related and applied topics, such as the status of colourised movies, the status of artistic fakes, and the paradox of our enjoying tragedies are also discussed.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy or Transnational Cultures and Creative Practice
Restriction: PHIL 212
Philosophy of Law
Themes in contemporary Western philosophy of law, relating to debates between liberal and non-liberal conceptions of law, including questions about the nature of legal rules, legal reasons and the relationship between law and morality. Major positions in legal theory will be covered, from legal positivism to critical legal studies.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy, or 15 points at Stage II in Philosophy and CRIM 201 or 202
Restriction: PHIL 217
Problems in Epistemology
Epistemology is the study of knowledge, rationality, belief and related topics. This course will give an overview of epistemology but will focus on three main issues: foundationalism versus coherentism, internalism versus externalism and replies to scepticism.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy
Restriction: PHIL 218
Kant and Hegel
An examination of the development of German idealism from Kant to Hegel, focusing on Kant's Critique of Pure Reason (1781-1787) and Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit (1807).
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy, or EUROPEAN 100 and 15 points at Stage II in Philosophy
Restriction: PHIL 220
20th-Century European Philosophy
Examines intellectual movements in twentieth-century European philosophy, including phenomenology, hermeneutics, existentialism, and poststructuralism. Discusses key figures in these movements such as Edmund Husserl, Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Maurice Merleau-Ponty, Hannah Arendt, Michel Foucault, and Jürgen Habermas.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy, or EUROPEAN 100 and 15 points at Stage II in Philosophy
Restriction: PHIL 221
Power, Critique and Emancipation
What is power? When are relations of power are legitimate and illegitimate? How is power structured in the modern world? How can illegitimate structures of power can be resisted and reordered to promote justice and human flourishing? This course examines and analyses cultural, economic, political and epistemic structures of power, including gender, race, and class.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Communication or Philosophy
Restriction: PHIL 225
Philosophy and the Environment
Philosophical questions relating to the environment and our use of it, such as the following: Do we have obligations to future generations, especially concerning preservation of the environment? What are our moral and epistemic responsibilities regarding climate change and other environmental issues? Does nature have intrinsic value? Is it better to live in a natural world or a virtual world?
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Global Environment and Sustainable Development or Philosophy
Restriction: PHIL 250
Philosophy of Science
Addresses philosophical questions about science, such as: What distinguishes science from pseudoscience? How is scientific knowledge generated and structured? Should we believe scientific claims about things we cannot directly observe? Do scientific theories give us true accounts of the world? Examines philosophical accounts of science and cases from historical and contemporary scientific research. A background in science is not expected.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy
Restriction: PHIL 260
Metaphysical Structures of the World
Metaphysics attempts to give a quite general picture of the nature and structure of the world, and particularly investigates philosophical problems which thereby arise. Science, common sense, religions and cultures all presuppose metaphysical worldviews. Traditional metaphysical problems concern laws, causation, time, space, substance, identity, attributes and universals, free will, reality, existence etc. Course topics will be selected from such traditional problems.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy or PHIL 260 and SCIGEN 201
Restriction: PHIL 261
Philosophy of Biology
Examines philosophical and conceptual issues in the life sciences. Topics may include the units and levels of selection, adaptationism, the evolution of altruism, biology and ethics, sociobiology and evolutionary psychology, cultural evolution, evolution versus creationism, and the origin and nature of life.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy or PHIL 260 and SCIGEN 201
Restriction: PHIL 263
Ethical Theory
Philosophical study of moral theory, in both normative ethics and meta-ethics. Topics covered may include: accounts of well-being such as hedonism, preference theory, and objectivism; theories of right action such as consequentialism and contractualism; the demandingness of morality; the role of intuitions in moral theory; and the status and justification of moral theories.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy or 15 points from PHIL 205, 210, 250, or POLITICS 209 or 30 points at Stage II in Global Politics and Human Rights
Restriction: PHIL 268
Postgraduate 700 Level Courses
Philosophy for Children – Theory and Practice
Provides a thorough practical grounding in facilitation of philosophical communities of inquiry, and in the construction of materials to stimulate philosophical inquiry. The educational theory and international research on cognitive and social outcomes of Philosophy for Children are explored. A selection of topics in philosophy will be studied at a level appropriate for advanced Education students encountering philosophy for the first time.
Prerequisite: Diploma in Teaching (Primary or Secondary), or equivalent
Restriction: PHIL 301
Special Studies
Directed study on a topic or topics approved by the Academic Head or nominee.
To complete this course students must enrol in PHIL 720 A and B, or PHIL 720
Philosophy of the Arts 1
Discussion of selected topics in philosophy of the arts.
Philosophy of the Arts 2
Discussion of selected topics in philosophy of the arts.
Philosophy of Religion 1
Discussion of selected topics in philosophy of religion.
Philosophy of Religion 2
Discussion of selected topics in philosophy of religion.
Philosophy of Religion 3
Discussion of selected topics in philosophy of religion.
Ancient/Medieval Philosophy 1
Discussion of selected topics in ancient and medieval philosophy.
Ancient/Medieval Philosophy 2
Discussion of selected topics in ancient and medieval philosophy.
History of Philosophy 1
Discussion of selected topics in the history of philosophy.
History of Philosophy 2
Discussion of selected topics in the history of philosophy.
European Continental Philosophy 1
Discussion of selected topics in European continental philosophy.
European Continental Philosophy 2
Discussion of selected topics in European continental philosophy.
European Continental Philosophy 3
Discussion of selected topics in European continental philosophy.
Special Studies
Directed study on a topic or topics approved by the Academic Head or nominee.
Special Studies
Directed study on a topic or topics approved by the Academic Head or nominee.
Special Studies: Honours
Directed study on a topic or topics approved by the Academic Head or nominee.
Special Studies: Honours
Directed study on a topic or topics approved by the Academic Head or nominee.
Special Studies: Honours
Directed study on a topic or topics approved by the Academic Head or nominee.
Special Studies: Honours
Directed study on a topic or topics approved by the Academic Head or nominee.
Special Studies: Master's
Directed study on a topic or topics approved by the Academic Head or nominee.
Special Studies: Master's
Directed study on a topic or topics approved by the Academic Head or nominee.
Special Studies: Master's
Directed study on a topic or topics approved by the Academic Head or nominee.
Special Studies: Master's
Directed study on a topic or topics approved by the Academic Head or nominee.
Research Project - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in PHIL 782 A and B, or PHIL 782
Dissertation - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in PHIL 792 A and B, or PHIL 792
Dissertation - Level 9
To complete this course students must enrol in PHIL 793 A and B, or PHIL 793
Thesis - Level 9
Prerequisite: A BA(Hons) in Philosophy with at least Second Class Honours, First Division, or equivalent
To complete this course students must enrol in PHIL 796 A and B
