Last modified: 31 May 2022 13:05
A commonly held idea is that the past is settled and closed, whereas the future is unsettled and open. There is no use in crying over spilled milk, what's done is done. In contrast, the future is open with possibilities; it's ours to shape. What is behind this difference we attribute to past and future? Is the future genuinely open in a way in which the past is not? If so, then how exactly should this openness be characterized? The course will also take a close look at our thought and talk about the future. Do utterances about the future, such as “It will rain tomorrow”, presently have a determinate truth-value? Is knowledge about the future possible? Does truth and knowledge of the future threaten the idea that the future is unsettled or open? Topics that will be studied include: ontological debates within the philosophy of time, metaphysical indeterminacy, the semantics of future contingents, fatalist arguments against free action, the problem of freedom and foreknowledge, as well as causal determinism and indeterminism.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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A commonly held idea is that the past is settled and closed, whereas the future is unsettled and open. There is no use in crying over spilled milk, what's done is done. In contrast, the future is open with possibilities; it's ours to shape. What is behind this difference we attribute to past and future? Is the future genuinely open in a way in which the past is not? If so, then how exactly should this openness be characterized? The course will also take a close look at our thought and talk about the future. Do utterances about the future, such as “It will rain tomorrow”, presently have a determinate truth-value? Is knowledge about the future possible? Does truth and knowledge of the future threaten the idea that the future is unsettled or open? Topics that will be studied include: ontological debates within the philosophy of time, metaphysical indeterminacy, the semantics of future contingents, fatalist arguments against free action, the problem of freedom and foreknowledge, as well as causal determinism and indeterminism.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen’s SafeAssign system. |
Word Count | 3500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of the subject areas |
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire an understanding of the philosophical literature relevant to the topics |
| Procedural | Create | Learn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Develop critical thinking skills. |
| Reflection | Create | Develop proficiency in written and oral communication skills. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 50 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen’s SafeAssign system. |
Word Count | 3500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of the subject areas |
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire an understanding of the philosophical literature relevant to the topics |
| Procedural | Create | Learn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers. |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Develop critical thinking skills. |
| Reflection | Create | Develop proficiency in written and oral communication skills. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of the subject areas |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Develop critical thinking skills. |
| Procedural | Create | Learn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers. |
| Reflection | Create | Develop proficiency in written and oral communication skills. |
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire an understanding of the philosophical literature relevant to the topics |
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