Philosophy: The Great Thinkers

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

Standard

An average of 8.5 hours each week.

None.

None.

None.

None.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject introduces some of the central themes of Western philosophy through several classic texts, such as Plato and Descartes on the nature of the mind, Hume and Kant on reason and morality, and Machiavelli and Marx on the state.

Students who successfully complete this subject will

• acquire knowledge and understanding of the texts studied.
• appreciate what these texts have to show us about what it means to be a human being.
• be able to present accurate and well-expressed exposition of important issues and views arising in them.
• be able to present informed and fair-minded philosophical evaluation of them.

Three short papers, 2x500 words (12.5% each), and 1x1000 words (25%) due during the semester, and a 2-hour, closed book, written exam at the end of semester (50%).

This subject has a minimum hurdle requirement of 75% tutorial attendance. Regular participation in tutorials is required. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 10% per day. After five working days late assessment will not be marked. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject

A subject reader will be available from the University Bookshop at the start of semester.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

Students who successfully complete this subject will

• be able to recognise philosophically important similarities and differences between views and issues arising in different texts and contexts.
• be able to apply the analytical skills developed in this subject to other philosophical and non-philosophical studies.
• be able to apply the critical skills developed in this subject to other philosophical and non-philosophical studies.