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The first two weeks of the course will concentrate on learning to learn and associated skills. In the following ten weeks of the course there will be a weekly lecture delivered by an academic followed by two tutorial sessions in which the critical skills are developed. The course material will consist of five “Great Ideas” with two lectures devoted to each. Each of these Great Ideas will address the following: Context (e.g., historical); the Theoretical (i.e., reflection and explanation); the Practical (social and political impacts); Contemporary debates. The Great Ideas: Philosophy How philosophy emerges as a distinctively Western phenomenon; the discovery of reason; the transition from story to proof; the role of logic and critique; the rejection of logocentrism in contemporary postmodernism. The Self From religion to nature; what makes us distinctively human; the relationship to the other; personal identity and consciousness. The Good What constitutes the good life? Is there a personal Good? The problem of evil. Contemporary theories. Science Cosmology and number; experiment and falsification; theoretical entities; evolution. Democracy and Law The Greeks and the ideal state; tyranny and rebellion; justice, rights and equality; toleration. Formative coursework Students complete formative assessment activities throughout the term. These in-class and homework activities will include writing assignments and presentation tasks. Required reading Weekly readings of journal articles, chapters from books, or short stories are topic specific. All reading material will be provided on the course Moodle site with additional reading and resource recommendations.
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