Philosophy is the systematic exploration and analysis of fundamental questions about the world around us and the human condition. Courses within this major are structured around the areas in which ANU Philosophy boasts a robust international reputation: epistemology, logic, metaphysics, philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, moral and political philosophy, European philosophy, and Asian philosophy. The methodological core of Philosophy as a discipline lies in critically and explicitly addressing issues through argumentation and reasoning. By completing this major, students will develop the ability to critically assess arguments both for and against contentious positions, as well as to adeptly formulate and defend their own arguments in support of their beliefs. Courses engage with both historical and contemporary literature, often spanning diverse disciplines, and enable students to refine their interpretive and critical evaluation skills. Courses also tackle a wide array of significant and fundamental issues stemming from some of the most compelling and urgent real-world problems we currently encounter.
Learning Outcomes
- examine and describe major philosophical issues, theories, and positions across various fields and contexts;
- critically evaluate arguments in historical and contemporary literature that, where relevant, spans diverse disciplines, and analyse their core concepts, assumptions, and implications; and
- articulate and defend written and oral arguments for and against positions using rationally persuasive argumentation.
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
The Philosophy Minor requires the completion of 24 units from the following lists, which must include:
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)
A minimum of 12 units from the completion of the following list:
ASIA2054 Chinese Philosophy: Creation and Development (6 units)
PHIL2012 Buddhist Philosophy (6 units)
PHIL2014 Topics in Analytic Philosophy (6 units)
PHIL2020 Theories of Social Justice (6 units)
PHIL2057 Philosophy of Science (6 units)
PHIL2061 Philosophy of Mind (6 units)
PHIL2074 Modern Theories of Knowledge (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 Normative Ethical Theory (6 units)
PHIL2289 Leviathan, Art and Law: Constituting the Body Politic (6 units)
PHIL2290 Philosophy, AI and Society (6 units)
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)
12 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| MATH1042 | Philosophy of the Cosmos | 6 |
| PHIL1004 | Fundamental Ideas in Philosophy: An Introduction | 6 |
| PHIL1005 | Logic and Critical Thinking | 6 |
| PHIL 1007: What is Humanity? |
12 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| PHIL 2016: Philos of Language | ||
| PHIL2020 | Theories of Social Justice | 6 |
| PHIL2042 | Philosophy of the Cosmos | 6 |
| PHIL2057 | Philosophy of Science | 6 |
| PHIL 2060: Contemporary Metaphysics | ||
| PHIL2061 | Philosophy of Mind | 6 |
| PHIL 2064: Theories of Ethics | ||
| PHIL2074 | Modern Theories of Knowledge | 6 |
| PHIL 2080: Logic | ||
| PHIL2082 | Topics in the Philosophy of Biology | 6 |
| PHIL 2094: The Problem of Free Will | ||
| PHIL 2100: Origins of Analy Philo | ||
| PHIL 3070: Reason, Crit & Self | ||
| PHIL 3072: Adv Analytic Phil | ||
| PHIL 2059: Love Death Freedom | ||
| PHIL2087 | Nietzsche | 6 |
| PHIL 2092: The Enlightenment | ||
| PHIL 2097: European Philosophy B | ||
| PHIL 2101: Democracy, Difference & Desire | ||
| PHIL 2102: Film as Philosophy | ||
| PHIL 2111: Global Citizens | ||
| PHIL 2114: Sustainability System & Agency | ||
| PHIL 3071: Adv Continental Phil | ||
| PHIL3073 | Advanced Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy | 6 |
| POLS 2076: Frankfurt School | ||
| ASIA2054 | Chinese Philosophy: Creation and Development | 6 |
| PHIL 2065: Politics and Rights | ||
| PHIL 2085: Applied Ethics | ||
| PHIL 2110: Social Philosophy | ||
| PHIL 2113: Global Justice | ||
| PHIL 2115: Hobbes to Mill | ||
| PHIL 3062: Advanced Phil Topics A | ||
| PHIL 3063: Advanced Philo Topics B | ||
| POLS 2063: Contemporary Political Theory | ||
| POLS2102 | Political Belief and Deceit | 6 |