Philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of reality and the human experience. It is the bedrock you reach when, in any other discipline, you keep asking: why? At the ANU, philosophy is also a method: approaching a question by breaking it down into its component parts, building up reasoned, logical arguments—and following them wherever they lead, however surprising.
Learning Outcomes
- 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 assumptions in social, political, scientific, moral, and cultural arguments, and relate them to contested ideas and real-world scenarios; and
- describe various philosophical traditions and their history.
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This major requires the completion of 48 units from the following lists, which must include:
A maximum of 12 units of courses at 1000 level
A minimum of 18 units of courses at 3000 level
A maximum of 12 units from the completion of the following list:
PHIL1004 - Fundamental Ideas in Philosophy: An Introduction (6 units)
PHIL1005 - Logic and Critical Thinking (6 units)
PHIL1008 - Introduction to Ethics (6 units)
A minimum of 6 units from the completion of the following:
ASIA2054 - Chinese Philosophy: Creation and Development (6 units)
PHIL2012 - Buddhist Philosophy (6 units)
PHIL2020 - Theories of Social Justice (6 units)
PHIL2042 - Philosophy of the Cosmos (6 units)
PHIL2057 - Philosophy of Science (6 units)
PHIL2061 - Philosophy of Mind (6 units)
PHIL2074 - Modern Theories of Knowledge (6 units)
PHIL2080 - Logic (6 units)
PHIL2082 - Sex and Death: the Philosophy of Biology (6 units)
PHIL2087 - Nietzsche (6 units)
PHIL2122 - Philosophy and Public Policy (6 units)
PHIL2125 - Rationality and Social Cooperation (6 units)
PHIL2126 - Science in Society: Ethics, Public Policy and Scientific Practice (6 units)
PHIL2127 - The Philosophy of Time (6 units)
PHIL2128 - Philosophy of Physics (6 units)
PHIL2129 - Metaethics: The Nature of Moral Judgment (6 units)
PHIL2289 - Leviathan, Art and Law: Constituting the Body Politic (6 units)
PHIL2290 - Philosophy, AI and Society (6 units)
POLS2063 - Contemporary Political Theory (6 units)
POLS2102 - Political Belief and Deceit (6 units)
A minimum of 18 units from the completion of the following:
PHIL3073 - Advanced Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy (6 units)
PHIL3074 - Advanced Philosophical Topics (6 units)
PHIL3075 - The Philosophy of Gender: Knowledge, Power, Bodies (6 units)
PHIL3076 - Philosophy of the Life Sciences (6 units)
PHIL3077 - The Metaphysics of David Lewis (6 units)
PHIL3078 - The Philosophy of Emotions (6 units)
PHIL3079 - Evolution and Human Nature (6 units)
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