phi2mmw modern western worldview
MAKING OF THE MODERN WESTERN WORLD VIEW
PHI2MMW
2017
Credit points: 15
Subject outline
Focusing on major themes in the intellectual development of the Western world, from Greek metaphysics and ethics, through Christian theology to Modern (17-19 century) scientific, political, ecological or aesthetic understandings of our place and responsibilities in the wider world, we will investigate ideas that continue to inform and guide much contemporary thinking on the social, economic, or environmental challenges of our times, such as, living well, happiness, justice, freedom, knowledge and the power to produce change in the world. We will consider differences in approach, including competing empiricist, rationalist or idealist assumptions that underpin our knowledge claims, as well as the choices that these differences enable and their consequent impact on the public good now and in the future. We will ask: how might an appreciation of the historical emergence of such ideas assist us in reflecting on our responsibilities in relation to the demands of our times?
SchoolSchool of Humanities & Social Sciences
Credit points15
Subject Co-ordinatorToula Diamanto Nicolacopoulos
Available to Study Abroad StudentsYes
Subject year levelYear Level 2 - UG
Exchange StudentsYes
Subject particulars
Subject rules
Prerequisites One 15 credit point philosophy subject or 30 credit points ASSC subjects or by approval of the subject coordinator
Co-requisitesN/A
Incompatible subjectsN/A
Equivalent subjectsN/A
Special conditionsN/A
Learning resources
Readings
| Resource Type | Title | Resource Requirement | Author and Year | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Readings | Learning to Live: A User's Manual | Recommended | Ferry, L. 2012 | CANONGATE |
| Readings | The passion of the western mind, | Recommended | Tarnas, R. 1991 | BALLANTINE |
Graduate capabilities & intended learning outcomes
01. Identify the cultural context of production of a text from the history of philosophy, compare the former to current times and ideas.
- Activities:
- In forum posts and replies identify ideas or claims in the set texts that you believe reveal the author's western European perspective. In group discussion consider their relevance today.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
02. Identify the underlying issues in a complex problem or controversial debate and analyse its structure.
- Activities:
- Read set passages from key texts, think about and answer a series of questions about the propositions they make.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
03. Locate and review an unfamiliar idea or line of argument in the light of your understanding of the intellectual context in which it was formulated and analyse it in relationship to other relevant ideas.
- Activities:
- Choose a writing activity from the LMS subject resources, think about the question, re-read the relevant set text, conduct a library/internet search of relevant secondary sources and plan your own response.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
04. Write a sustained defence of a philosophical claim based on your critical assessment of a philosophical problem raised in a text from the history of philosophy.
- Activities:
- Choose one of the main research topics, read the set text, think about and discuss a philosophical claim and objections to it in the light of its historical assumptions, presuppositions or implications.
- Related graduate capabilities and elements:
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Literacies and Communication Skills(Writing,Speaking,Quantitative Literacy,Cultural Literacy)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Inquiry and Analytical Skills(Critical Thinking,Creative Problem-solving,Inquiry/Research)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Personal and Professional Skills(Teamwork including leadership and working in groups,Autonomy and independence,Ethical behaviour,Adaptability Skills,Study and Learning Skills)
- Discipline -Specific Knowledge and Skills(Discipline-Specific Knowledge and Skills)
Subject options
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Melbourne, 2017, Semester 1, Day
Overview
Online enrolmentYes
Maximum enrolment sizeN/A
Enrolment information
Subject Instance Co-ordinatorToula Diamanto Nicolacopoulos
Class requirements
Lecture/SeminarWeek: 10 - 22
One 2.0 hours lecture/seminar per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
Collaborative Based LearningWeek: 10 - 22
One 1.0 hours collaborative based learning per week on weekdays during the day from week 10 to week 22 and delivered via blended.
"Week 4 and Week 6 Face to face ; the remainder on line"
Assessments
| Assessment element | Comments | % | ILO* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Task 1: Critical Reading Exercise (600 words) | 15 | 02 | |
| Task 2: On-line Forum Discusison (1000 word equivalent) | 25 | 01, 02, 03 | |
| Task 3: Staged Essay Part One: Proposal and Bibliography (800 words) | 20 | 01, 02, 03 | |
| Task 4: Staged Essay Part Two: Essay (1600 words) | 40 | 02, 03, 04 |