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
Philosophy and Religion
Examines the relationship between philosophy and religion from the perspective of different philosophical and religious traditions. Topics include: the nature of ultimate reality, arguments for and against the existence of God or gods, competing philosophical and religious accounts of life after death, religious pluralism and diversity.
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
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
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
Indigenous Philosophy
An exploration of concepts and ideas from a range of Indigenous philosophies, critically examining these with a view to understanding their theoretical underpinnings, conceptual migrations, and contemporary significance in both local and global contexts.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage I in Philosophy or 60 points passed
Restriction: PHIL 331
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
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
Explores how language is used to communicate ideas. Topics may include: the nature of meaning, how words can convey meaning, how word meaning combines to create sentential meaning, how we communicate better by not saying what we mean, how we repair and reconstrue utterances to extract meaning, how truth is related to meaning, how slurs work.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy
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 and Religion
Examines the relationship between philosophy and religion from the perspective of different philosophical and religious traditions. Topics include: the nature of ultimate reality, arguments for and against the existence of God or gods, competing philosophical and religious accounts of life after death, religious pluralism and diversity.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy
Restriction: PHIL 207
Indigenous Philosophy
An exploration of concepts and ideas from a range of Indigenous philosophies, critically examining these with a view to understanding their theoretical underpinnings, conceptual migrations, and contemporary significance in both local and global contexts.
Prerequisite: 30 points at Stage II in Philosophy
Restriction: PHIL 231
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 Philosophy or 60 points passed at Stage II
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 Global Politics and Human Rights or Philosophy or PHIL 250 or POLITICS 209
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
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.
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 Topic: Indigenous Political Philosophies
An exploration of contemporary Indigenous moral and political philosophies from around the world. These may include philosophical traditions and methods of inquiry from Aotearoa New Zealand, Moana-Oceania, Africa, North America, Latin America, South-East Asia and others. Alongside exploring these philosophical traditions together, we will also consider contemporary issues in metaphilosohy and intercultural engagement.
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: 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