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  6. PH4057: CURRENT ISSUES IN EPISTEMOLOGY

PH4057: CURRENT ISSUES IN EPISTEMOLOGY (2014-2015)

Last modified: 28 Jun 2018 10:27


Course Overview

This advanced course in epistemology offers a critical overview of hot issues currently debated. We will first investigate the apparently intractable problems of bootstrapping and easy knowledge. We will then focus on phenomenal conservatism (possibly the most general conception of epistemic justification nowadays). We will assess its advantages and disadvantages. In the second part of the course we will consider topics in social epistemology, such as testimony and disagreement. We will also critically survey current explanations of how we attain modal knowledge (i.e. knowledge of what is possible and impossible).

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term First Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Luca Moretti

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

None.

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The course focuses on the problem of the nature of epistemic justification and knowledge. Some of the most interesting epistemological conceptions emerged recently - including reliabilism, evidentialism and hybrid views - will be introduced and evaluated. We will also analyse epistemological theses and phenomena hotly discussed nowadays, such as epistemic circularity, easy knowledge, bootstrapping, failure of transmission of warrant, entitlement and immediate justification. We will investigate what consequences these phenomena have for the general problem of the knowledge of the external world and the overall structure of epistemic rationality. The topic of the vindication of the inference to the best explanation and themes in recent modal epistemology will also be surveyed.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

1st Attempt: One 3500 word essays (45%), one written exam (45%), plus seminar presentation (10%).
Resit: There is no resit for Level 4 students. Compensatory credit may be awarded at level 1. In line with School Policy, failure to submit a component piece of assessed work, or submitting a token piece, will result in the withdrawal of the class certificate (students are not eligible for resit).

Formative Assessment

Feedback on essays; individually arranged conversations during office hours/by appointment; feedback on in-class presentations.

Feedback

Written on essay and marking sheet; office hours/appointment; peer questions and comments during in-class presentations.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.
 

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