Postgraduate Course: Scepticism MSc (PHIL11117)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course provides an introduction to philosophical scepticism. Topics may include: the history of scepticism in Ancient and Modern philosophy, sceptical arguments in contemporary epistemology, anti-sceptical strategies (idealism, pragmatism, Mooreanism, reliabilism, contextualism), the problem of induction, scepticism about testimony, and practical consequences of scepticism.
Scepticism MSc is shared with the undergraduate version Scepticism (PHIL10139).
Formative assessment and feedback:
- opportunity to submit a formative essay by the week 6 closing deadline
- individual meetings with course organiser |
| Course description |
Students who complete Scepticism MSc, along with Epistemology 2, satisfy the requirements for the epistemology specialization for the MSc in Philosophy (taught).
For more information on the MSc in Philosophy (taught):
http://www.philosophy.ed.ac.uk/phil_students/postgraduate/msc_in_philosophy.php
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the main arguments for and against philosophical scepticism.
- Understand the role that scepticism plays in contemporary epistemology.
- Be able to interpret historical and contemporary philosophical texts.
- Be able to prepare scholarly research on philosophical skepticism.
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Reading List
Sextus Empiricus, Outlines of Scepticism
Michael Frede, "The Sceptic's Beliefs"
Myles Burnyeat, "Can the Sceptic Live his Scepticism?"
Jonathan Barnes, "The Beliefs of a Pyrrhonist?"
Roderick Chisholm, "The Myth of the Given"
Hume, Enquiry concerning Human Understanding
Susan Haazk, "A Foundherentist Theory of Empirical Justification"
BonJour, "Can Empirical Knowledge Have a Foundation?"
Ernest Sosa, "The Raft and the Pyramid"
Barry Stroud, The Significance of Philosophical Scepticism
G.E. Moore, "Four Forms of Scepticism"
Ernest Sosa, "How to Defeat Opposition to Moore"
Robert Nozick, "Knowledge and Skepticism"
Fred Dretske, "Epistemic Operators"
Linda Zagzebski, "Recovering Understanding"
Allan Hazlett, A Critical Introduction to Skepticism |
Additional Information
| Course URL |
Please see Learn page |
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Students will demonstrate the following transferable skills:
- evaluating abstract theoretical claims.
- grasping and analysing complex arguments. |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Lectures are delivered by Dr Allan Hazlett |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Allan Hazlett
Tel:
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Becky Verdon
Tel: (0131 6)51 5002
Email: |
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