Expand+Autumn Trimester - September to December
Delivery Mode - Online

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures 24
Tutorial 7
Autonomous Student Learning 94
Total 125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
1. TEACHING

This mod...

Hide-Autumn Trimester - September to December
Delivery Mode - Online

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures 24
Tutorial 7
Autonomous Student Learning 94
Total 125

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
1. TEACHING

This module is taught on the basis of 24 lectures (two one-hour lectures per week for twelve weeks), and 7 one-hour tutorials (delivered by a graduate tutor).

Lectures will be delivered live during timetabled slots. Each lecture will consist primarily in the presentation of content by the lecturer, and will also include some discussion of the material.

In tutorials, students will have the opportunity to discuss and debate the week's readings and the material presented in the lectures in detail, as well as to raise questions concerning the material with the graduate tutor. Students will often be divided into smaller groups who will discuss certain questions and then feed back their answers to the whole group. There will also be an opportunity to discuss essay plans and essay feedback in tutorials. Tutorials will often be structured around specific questions and readings provided in advance by the tutor or lecturer.

2. LEARNING

Learning for this module is centred around (i) material presented in lectures; (ii) reading material and videos shared on Brightspace; (iii) discussion and debate; and (iv) essay writing.

Students will be expected to read short set texts in advance of the lectures; to attend lectures/seminars; and to actively participate in tutorials. Students will be supported in their learning of the module material by lecturers and tutors, both in lectures and tutorials, by email, and in set office hours. Students will be supported in their writing by a lecture on how to write a good philosophical essay; reading materials on how to write a good philosophical essay; substantial comments on draft essays; clear feedback on submissions by the lecturer and/or tutor; a clear rubric accompanying essays; and a sample essay.

Expand+PHIL20490 Knowledge & Scepticism
Academic Year 2022/2023

"A common refrain heard around New Scientist‘s offices in recent weeks has been “episte… what?!” Even among educated and well-informed people, epistemology – the study of knowledg...

Hide-PHIL20490 Knowledge & Scepticism
Academic Year 2022/2023

"A common refrain heard around New Scientist‘s offices in recent weeks has been “episte… what?!” Even among educated and well-informed people, epistemology – the study of knowledge – is neither a familiar word nor a well-known field of enquiry. But it has never been more important." - New Scientist Leader, 29 March 2017

This course is about *knowledge*, and related phenomena such as belief; justification; skepticism; testimony; and disagreement.

In the first part of the course, we address some of the core questions of epistemology, such as: what exactly *is* knowledge, and how does it relate to true belief? Do we really know as much as we think we do? And what is the difference between a justified and an unjustified belief?

In the second part of the course, we address questions concerning the *social* and *ethical* dimensions of knowledge, such as: how is knowledge transmitted from one person to another? Is it right to base our ethical beliefs on what others tell us? What is 'fake news', and how should we deal with it? And, what exactly is the nature of the injustice done to those whose true beliefs are not accredited as knowledge?

These are the central questions addressed in this module. We approach them by analysing classic and contemporary texts in epistemology; by carefully formulating arguments and responses to those arguments; and through discussion and debate.

The course is assessed on the basis of two research essays, each worth 50% of the final grade (there is no exam). Students will be supported in writing their essays by (i) an essay rubric; (ii) a sample essay written by the lecturer; (iii) essay templates; (iv) links to relevant essay-writing resources; and (iv) extensive feedback on both draft and submitted essays.

The course is taught by Dr. Daniel Esmonde Deasy (Assistant Professor of Philosophy, UCD School of Philosophy) and is delivered in the form of 24 one-hour lectures and seven one-hour tutorials. Lectures will be delivered *live* during timetabled slots. Each lecture will consist primarily in the presentation of content by the lecturer, as well as discussion concerning the material.

[NOTE: If you are taking this module as an *elective*, then please note that it forms part of the Structured Elective *Philosophy of Mind* - see here: https://www.ucd.ie/students/electives/structured-elective-KK.html (copy and paste this address into your browser). Students can gain a Structured Elective in Philosophy of Mind (which is noted on their UCD Transcript) by completing 15 credits from the modules listed on the above webpage.]

Learning Outcomes:
As a result of studying this course, students will learn to:

1. CRITICALLY REFLECT on classic and contemporary debates in epistemology (the philosophical study of knowledge)

2. IDENTIFY key concepts and theories in epistemology, and SHOW AWARENESS of potential problems that have led to the refinement of those concepts and theories in the course of the relevant debates

3. INTERPRET and UNDERSTAND classic and contemporary texts in epistemology

4. WRITE well-structured and well-argued philosophical essays that explain and critically assess the key concepts and theories introduced in the module

5. RESPOND to essay feedback

6. ARTICULATE their own responses to philosophical views; support them with reasons; and defend them in light of potential objections