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PH107-15 Problems in Philosophy and Literature

Department
Philosophy
Level
Undergraduate Level 1
Module leader
Eileen John
Credit value
15
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry
Introductory description

PH107 - Problems in Philosophy and Literature

Module aims

This module is the 1st-year, jointly taught module that is core for the BA in Philosophy and Literature and BA in Philosophy, Literature and Classics. It is open as an option for other 1st-year students. It is designed to introduce students to combined study of the disciplines. We discuss basic conceptions of philosophy and literature and how they relate, and we address four specific topics of importance to this relation (e.g., emotion and reason, conceptions of reality, self-knowledge, ethics and aesthetics, poetry and thought).

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Week 1. Philosophy and Literature: basic ideas and questions

Weeks 2 and 3: Emotion and Reason
Readings such as J. M. Coetzee, The Lives of Animals;
Aristotle, Poetics; Thomas Nagel, ‘What is it like to be a bat?’; Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments

Weeks 4 and 5: Belief and Unbelief
Readings such as Flannery O'Connor, short stories; Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, “Faith in Man”

Weeks 7 and 8: Ethics and Aesthetics
Readings such as Toni Morrison, The Bluest Eye; extracts from: Immanuel Kant, The Critique of Judgemen;t
Pierre Bourdieu, Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste; Iris Murdoch, The Sovereignty of Good

Weeks 9 and 10: Poetic Language
Readings such as William Wordsworth, “The Brothers”; Martin Heidegger, “. . . Poetically Man Dwells . . .”; Friedrich Hölderlin, 'In Lovely Blue'

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Understand how central themes are addressed in the core texts, and understand how philosophical and literary concerns combine in addressing these themes;
  • Articulate their own views on how to interpret and evaluate the achievements of the core texts, showing ability to support claims with textual detail, enter into debate and respond constructively to other points of view;
  • Critically analyse and evaluate philosophical and interpretive arguments on central issues in philosophy and literature;
  • Recognize the distinctive contributions made by texts that have combined philosophical and literary significance.
Indicative reading list

(included in syllabus above)

Interdisciplinary

Co-taught across two departments.

International

Core texts can be drawn from non-UK and non-European traditions (e.g., works by Japanese, Argentinian and North American writers have been core texts on the module).

Subject specific skills
  • Understanding of what it means to bring the disciplines of philosophy and literature together
  • Apply philosophical concepts and arguments to literary works and vice versa
  • Ability to critically discuss literary and philosophical texts
  • Ability to support claims with textual detail, enter into debate and respond constructively to other points of view
Transferable skills
  • Close reading, analysis and interpretation of complex texts
  • Ability to explain and support one's own claims
  • Communication, both oral and written

Teaching split

Provider Weighting
English and Comparative Literary Studies 50%
Philosophy 50%

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 9 sessions of 1 hour 30 minutes (9%)
Other activity 30 minutes (0%)
Private study 136 hours (91%)
Total 150 hours
Private study description

No private study requirements defined for this module.

Other activity description

Private study

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Assessment group A3
Weighting Study time
Written Assignment (2500 words) 90%
Written Assignment (500 words) 10%

Close reading exercise

Feedback on assessment

Written feedback on essays (using standard Philosophy feedback cover-page)

Courses

This module is Core for:

  • Year 1 of UPHA-VQ72 Undergraduate Philosophy and Literature
  • Year 1 of UPHA-VQ52 Undergraduate Philosophy, Literature and Classics

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 1 of UPHA-VL78 BA in Philosophy with Psychology
  • Year 1 of UHIA-V1V5 Undergraduate History and Philosophy
  • UPHA-V700 Undergraduate Philosophy
    • Year 1 of V700 Philosophy
    • Year 1 of V700 Philosophy

This module is Option list D for:

  • Year 1 of UHIA-V1V5 Undergraduate History and Philosophy