Knowledge and Reality

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170 hours

Prior completion of at least one philosophy subject is recommended.

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 deals with central questions of epistemology and some aspects of the relation between epistemology and metaphysics. The primary focus will be epistemological questions about the nature of knowledge and justified belief. In addition, we will explore questions of a metaphysical nature that have a bearing on epistemological concerns, such as the nature of truth and reality, and the relationship between knowledge, truth and reality. We will also consider meta-epistemological questions about the nature of epistemological inquiry, including recent work in experimental philosophy on the role of intuition in epistemology, as well as naturalistic challenges to conceptual analysis.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• have a sound general comprehension of the major recent advances in our philosophical understanding of the nature and structure of knowledge;
• display a familiarity with some of the key texts on which these advances are based;
• indicate an awareness of how the subject matter is related to broader concerns in contemporary philosophy;
• display acquaintance with some important past contributions to the discussion of those issues;
• have the abilty to explain in detail and critically discuss at least two important aspects of these recent advances.

A 1500 word essay, 30% (due mid-semester) and a 2500 word essay, 70% (due in the examination period).

Hurdle Requirement: 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 5 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.

Noah Lemos, An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge (Cambridge University Press 2007) In addition, a subject reader will be available online.

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.