Philosophy Program
Undergraduate Studies
Philosophy is concerned with a wide range of absorbing questions which may be grouped under the broad headings, What is reality? How can we know about it? How should we think? How should we live?
Our many individual units look in more detail at these broad questions by exploring the nature of the mind and body, problems of life and death, freedom and justice, values, knowledge, truth and certainty, objectivity and subjectivity, reasoning, and so on.
Philosophy at La Trobe University
- has a high standard of teaching and supervision
- provides a supportive atmosphere in which students may learn
- makes use of the feedback obtained from students about the quality of each staff member's teaching
- throws light on other disciplines students study because we design various philosophy units to be of special interest to students majoring in, for example, psychology, social science, linguistics, physical and biological science, and so forth, see Philosophy for Science Students and Logic
- attracts students from other Australian universities and overseas to its honours and postgraduate programs because of its high standing in the discipline
- includes staff members who have participated in public debates about matters ranging across such topics as the waging of war, voluntary euthanasia, art, religion, science and education
First Year Philosophy Units 2008
Students may study up to three philosophy units at first year level and in addition may take the first year logic unit. Any combination of these units is permitted; however certain of them fall into natural groupings. Any of them will provide the background to study philosophy at later year levels. For unit descriptions search the Unit Database by typing in the unit code. These descriptions should help you to choose a unit that suits your interests.
General Introduction to Philosophy
For students seeking a general introduction to the main areas of philosophy the appropriate units are:
PHI1FMV FREEDOM, MIND & HUMAN NATURE (Semester 1)
(also available at the Wodonga Campus in 2009).
PHI1TAS EXISTENCE, VALUE & GOD (Semester 2)
Philosophy and Science
For students interested in looking philosophically at the history of science, the recommended units are:
PHI1AAP ASTRONOMY & PHILOSOPHY(Semester 1)
PHI1BAP BIOLOGY & PHILOSOPHY (Semester 2)
Critical Thinking
For students interested in sharpening their critical and analytical skills, whether for use in philosophy or any other unit, Critical Thinking is ideal.
PHI1CRT CRITICAL THINKING (Semester 1 Lecture-based)
PHI1CRT CRITICAL THINKING (Semester 2 Online - does not require attendence on campus)
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Second and Third Year Philosophy Units 2008
A range of units in all the major areas of philosophy is available. Most are oriented to a topic area, or range of issues, but some are devoted to the thought of particular philosophers of significance (e.g. Plato, Heidegger, Wittgenstein). For unit descriptions search the Unit Database by typing in the unit code. These descriptions should help you to choose a unit that suits your interests.
Not all units are available every year.
Semester 1
PHI2HPA HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE A
PHI2/3DBK DISCOURSE, BODY, KNOWLEDGE
PHI2/3FRD FREUD (not available in 2009)
PHI2/3HUR HUMAN RIGHTS
PHI2/3LMU LANGUAGE, MEANING & UNDERSTANDING
(not available in 2009)
PHI2/3LOG LOGIC
PHI2/3LDM LOVE, DESIRE & MASTER-SLAVE
(also available at Wodonga in 2009)
PHI2/3PSA PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE
(not available in 2009)
PHI2/3VML VALUES & THE MEANING OF LIFE
Semester 2
PHI2HPB HISTORY & PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE B
PHI2CAS/PHI3CAS CERTAINTY & SUBJECTIVITY
(not available in 2009)
PHI2ECP/PHI3ECP ECOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHIES
(not available in 2009)
PHI2/3EDU ECOLOGY, DEMOCRACY & UTOPIA
(not available in 2009)
PHI2/3ETH ETHICS
PHI2/3FOL FRONTIERS OF LOGIC
PHI2/3MMW MAKING OF THE MODERN WORLDVIEW
(also available at Wodonga in 2009)
PHI2/3PAM PLATO & THE MEANING OF BEING
(not available in 2009)
PHI2/3PHT PHILOSOPHY TODAY
PHI2/3PMP POSTMODERNISM, METAPHYSICS, POLITICS
(not available in 2009)
PHI2/3WAP WAR & PEACE
(not available in 2009)
PHI2/3TWP WAYS OF PARADOX (not available in 2009)
Third Year Philosophy Units Only
PHI3RCA READING COURSE A
PHI3RCB READING COURSE B
Coordinator: Ross Brady
LOG3RCA LOGIC READING COURSE A
LOG3RCB LOGIC READING COURSE B
Coordinator: Ross Brady
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Honours Year in Philosophy
Enquiries regarding the honours program are welcomed from students at any time after completion of their first year, and students considering honours are strongly advised to consult the Honours coordinator to plan a suitable major. A student who is admitted to honours in any discipline undertakes a fourth year of study devoted entirely to that discipline.
Honours year in Logic
Students contemplating admission to the honours program, should consult the Head of Logic as soon as possible after the completion of first year, to plan suitable second and third-year subjects.
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