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PHI-10020 - Module Specification
School of Social, Political and Global Studies
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2022/23 Last Updated: 19 January 2023

PHI-10020 - Small Text, Big Thoughts
Coordinator: Sorin Baiasu Room: CBA2.001 Tel: +44 1782 7 33591
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

N/A

Barred Combinations

N/A

Description for 2022/23


Aims
The module aims to offer student an in-depth introduction to a short influential text from the history of philosophy both:
- to familiarise them with that important text and
- to introduce them to a focused approach to philosophical texts, an approach which cannot be provided in other modules to the same extent, but which is very important in the field.
Any short and influential text in the history of philosophy can be the focus of this module, including: The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali, The Daodejing, Plato's Phaedo, Descartes's Meditations, Kant's Prolegomena, Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil, Wittgenstein's Tractatus, De Beauvoir's Ethics of Ambiguity.

Intended Learning Outcomes

philosophically comprehend, present and evaluate the key ideas of the text focused on: 1,2
demonstrate conceptual familiarity and critical understanding of some of the main interpretations of the text: 2
use a philosophical approach in the discussion of specific aspects of the book examined in the module: 1,2
present in a rigorous way their own views on the book and its significance for the history of philosophy: 2

Study hours

There will be:
- 12 x 1-hour lectures;
- 8 x 1-hour seminars;
- 2 x 53 hours for the preparation of the essays;
- 24 hours for the preparation of the seminars.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Essay weighted 50%
One 1,000-word essay
A 1,000-word essay, which reconstructs one particular significant argument from the text examined in the module

2: Essay weighted 50%
One 1,000-word essay
A 1,000-word essay on the significance of the text focused on for the history of philosophy

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 19 January 2023