Module manager: Lea Salje
Email: L.C.Salje@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is not approved as an Elective
This module will explore a variety of classical texts in analytic philosophy by examining these key texts in significant detail and situating them in the birth and history of analytic philosophy. Analytic philosophy comprises a fairly broad set of topics but a distinctive approach; work will be drawn from this broad range with an eye to illuminating interconnections and the approach itself.
The module examines a number of classic texts in analytic philosophy, to give a sense of the history of this approach.
It is taught by seminars focused on close study of actual texts so that you can acquire a good understanding of the nature and development of analytic philosophy. This will provide you with the background to, and familiarity with, the approach characteristic of analytic philosophy so that you can apply the approach to your own independent philosophical investigations.
Through seminars and formative feedback, you will be provided with understanding and guidance to produce original philosophical work of your own on topics covered during the module.
The seminars, though facilitated by the module leader, will be ‘active’, discursive, and student-led, and will form the basis of further directed reading and discussion.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Evaluate some central texts in the history of analytic philosophy and some of the key issues raised in these texts.
2. Critically analyse concepts, arguments, and theories relating to some central texts in the history of analytic philosophy.
3. Develop and defend your own view on these texts and issues through cogent and nuanced argumentation.
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
4. Communicate ideas and understanding clearly and concisely, using appropriate academic language (Academic and Work-Ready skill)
5. Undertake independent research to identify, evaluate and synthesise relevant material to support knowledge and analysis of topics (Academic, Work-Ready, Digital skill)
6. Apply standards of academic integrity including when and how to appropriately acknowledge someone else’s work (Academic and Work-Ready skill)
Topics that may be covered in the module include (but are not limited to):
Ontology and ontological commitment.
The nature of truth.
Truth and meaning.
Modality.
Metaethics.
Self-knowledge.
Aesthetic judgement.
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Supervision | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Seminar | 11 | 2 | 22 |
| Private study hours | 277 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 23 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300 | ||
In addition to the formative feedback available to students in student hours and seminar-based activities, each student is invited to complete THREE pieces of formative work:
- A brief presentation on the work they have done towards their summatively assessed essay.
- An essay plan, which will receive feedback in a one-to-one supervision.
- A formative essay which will be a partial draft of the essay they will submit for summative assessment, for written or verbal feedback.
To ensure that students get the formative feedback that they need, they are asked to read and reflect on (i) the feedback they received in previous summative assessments, (ii) the PRHS marking criteria, and (iii) the specific guidance provided on the summative assessment in this module. This requires students to critically engage with previous feedback, current expectations, and play an active role in honing their knowledge and skill development.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Essay | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 08/05/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team