Topics in Metaphysics

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

170 hours

Admission to fourth year Honours or the Postgraduate Diploma in the discipline of Philosophy

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 unit covers selected issues in contemporary metaphysics. We will focus on a particular philosophical issue (e.g. ontology, possibility, necessity, the nature of objects), and look at contemporary work addressing this issue.

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• show an understanding of selected issues in contemporary metaphysics.
• manifest philosophical skill in arguing in an alert and well informed way for conclusions related to these issues.
• display acquaintance with some important past contributions to the discussion of those issues.
• indicate an awareness of how the subject matter is related to broader concerns in contemporary philosophy.
• acquire the ability to locate issues concerning metaphysics.
• learn to evaluate sophisticated arguments offered in the literature.

A 500 word essay, 10% (due week 4), a 500 word essay, 10% (due week 8) and a 4000 word essay, 80% (due in week 12)

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to pass this subject. Regular participation in class is required. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 2% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

A reading list will be issued at the beginning of semester.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.