Module manager: Darren Bradley
Email: d.j.bradley@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
This module is approved as a discovery module
This module will introduce you to central issues in philosophy of mind, epistemology, and metaphysics which concern the self and its relationship to the rest of the world. For example: What am I? How can I have knowledge of the world around me? To what extent is reality dependent on me?
This course aims to introduce you to fundamental questions in epistemology, metaphysics and the mind, while cultivating critical thinking and analytical skills.
The first learning objective is to gain a suite of core concepts in philosophy that are relevant to epistemology, metaphysics and the mind. This objective will be served by lecture materials that provide glossary definitions of these key concepts.
A second objective is to engage meaningfully with a range of influential texts. This objective will be targeted by weekly tutorials, for which you will be required to read texts in epistemology, metaphysics and the mind, and come ready to discuss the text with your peers in class.
A third objective is to develop an ability to respond evaluatively to core theories in epistemology, metaphysics and the mind. You will be exposed to various theories in weekly lectures. These lectures will cover critical responses to the theories discussed, as well as motivations in favour. Tutorial discussion will be structured around questions that encourage meaningful evaluation of the theories discussed in the text.
By the end of this course, you will be equipped to thoughtfully engage with contemporary issues in epistemology, metaphysics and the mind, and to articulate and defend philosophical arguments clearly and effectively.
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Explain and discuss some central issues in the study of metaphysics, epistemology or philosophy of mind
2. Accurately reconstruct arguments, from primary sources, central to the study of metaphysics, epistemology or philosophy of mind
3. Construct a well-structured simple argument for your own view on least one theory, position or argument studied in the module.
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. Search for and utilise appropriate material to support knowledge and analysis of topics (Academic, Work Ready, Digital and Sustainability skill)
6. Apply standards of academic integrity including when and how to appropriately acknowledge someone else’s work (Academic and Work Ready skill)
The syllabus will vary annually. Possible topics include:
• Knowledge: analysis of knowledge, truth, scepticism
• Mind: subjectivity, personal identity, the nature of the self (underlying substantial “I” vs. the “bundle theory” of the self), free will and determinism, the mind/body problem
• “Mind as reality”: solipsism, idealism
• Reality: objectivity, natural vs. social kinds, colour, the reality of the past and the future
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Seminar | 8 | 1 | 8 |
| Private study hours | 182 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 18 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
In addition to the formative feedback available to students in student hours and seminar-based activities, each student is invited to complete ONE piece of formative work which will receive written feedback.
Students are given a choice of: exposition of an argument; objection and reply; essay plan.
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: 17/03/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team