Philosophy is an investigation into fundamental matters of human concern. It is at the same time an investigation into problems basic to all the various special disciplines pursued in a university. It is not normally taught outside universities, and for this reason there are no special prerequisites for admission to a philosophy course.
Courses are grouped into analytical, continental, and moral and political traditions and it is recommended that students complete their major within a tradition, though they are free to choose any combination of philosophy courses to complete their major.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Due to structural changes in the undergraduate program rules in 2012, the courses that make up the new 2012 majors may be different to the pre-2012 majors, and therefore some courses cannot be counted between majors. Students are advised to contact the CASS Student Office if they are unsure about their Majors.
Learning outcomes
Students who complete this major will have the skills and knowledge to:
- closely analyse and critique arguments in a wide variety of fields and contexts, which may include using formal logic.
- develop cogent arguments and presentations, including engaging with detailed criticism of their ideas.
- apply complex abstract ideas to real-world phenomena in a wide variety of fields and contexts.
- recognise implicit epistemological and ontological assumptions in social, political, scientific, moral, and cultural arguments and positions, and relate them to contesting ideas and real-world scenarios.
- describe western philosophical traditions and their history.
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This major requires the completion of 48 units, which must include:
A maximum of 12 units of courses at 1000 level
A minimum of 6 units of courses at 3000 level
A maximum of 12 units may come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH1042 | Philosophy of the Cosmos | 6 |
| PHIL1004 | Fundamental Ideas in Philosophy: An Introduction | 6 |
| PHIL1005 | Logic and Critical Thinking | 6 |
| PHIL1007 | Philosophy, Society, Humanity | 6 |
A minimum of 36 units must come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ASIA2054 | Chinese Philosophy: Creation and Development | 6 |
| PHIL2012 | Topics in Buddhist Philosophy | 6 |
| PHIL2016 | Philosophy of Language | 6 |
| PHIL2020 | Theories of Social Justice | 6 |
| PHIL2042 | Philosophy of the Cosmos | 6 |
| PHIL2057 | Philosophy of Science | 6 |
| PHIL2059 | Love Death and Freedom (20th Century French Phenomenology) | 6 |
| PHIL2060 | Contemporary Metaphysics | 6 |
| PHIL2061 | Philosophy of Psychology | 6 |
| PHIL2064 | Theories of Ethics | 6 |
| PHIL2065 | Politics and Rights | 6 |
| PHIL2074 | Modern Theories of Knowledge | 6 |
| PHIL2080 | Logic | 6 |
| PHIL2082 | Sex and Death: the Philosophy of Biology | 6 |
| PHIL2085 | Applied Ethics | 6 |
| PHIL2087 | Nietzsche | 6 |
| PHIL2092 | Philosophy of The Enlightenment | 6 |
| PHIL2094 | Themes from Wittgenstein | 6 |
| PHIL2097 | European Philosophy B | 6 |
| PHIL2100 | Origins of Analytical Philosophy | 6 |
| PHIL2101 | Democracy, Difference and Desire | 6 |
| PHIL2102 | Film as Philosophy | 6 |
| PHIL2110 | Social Philosophy | 6 |
| PHIL2111 | Global Citizens | 6 |
| PHIL2113 | Global Justice | 6 |
| PHIL2114 | Sustainability, System and Agency | 6 |
| PHIL2115 | Political Philosophy from Hobbes to Mill | 6 |
| PHIL2117 | Meta-ethics | 6 |
| PHIL2119 | Foundations of Modern Philosophy | 6 |
| PHIL2120 | Towards a Critique of Political Economy: the Young Marx on Work, Property and Emancipation | 6 |
| PHIL3062 | Advanced Philosophical Topics A | 6 |
| PHIL3063 | Advanced Philosophical Topics B | 6 |
| PHIL3070 | Reason, Critique and the Self: Kant and German Idealism | 6 |
| PHIL3071 | Advanced Continental Philosophy | 6 |
| PHIL3072 | Advanced Analytic Philosophy | 6 |
| PHIL3073 | Advanced Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy | 6 |
| POLS2063 | Contemporary Political Theory | 6 |
| POLS2102 | The Political Philosophy of Deception | 6 |