Module Directory

The general aim of this module is to improve students' ability to read, understand and critically assess philosophical texts from a range of historical periods and philosophical traditions. The particular text (or texts) under consideration in any one year will operate as exemplary for the development of philosophical reading skills more generally. Some of the texts that may be addressed include: Kierkegaard's Philosophical Crumbs, Austin's How to Do Things with Words; Anscombe's Intention; Rousseau's The Social Contract; Descartes' Metaphysical Meditations; Plato's Gorgias, Merleau-Ponty's The Prose of the World.

Each year, we look in detail at a philosophical text (or a set of texts). Close attention will be paid to reading the text on its own terms and developing students' critical and philosophical skills by engaging closely with the arguments and questions raised. We will look at the text not only as a historical document but also study it with regard to its on-going contribution to philosophical thinking.

The aims of this module are:

• To develop a good and critical understanding of a philosophical text or set of texts.


• To gain a better understanding of what it means to attentively read a philosophical text.


• To gain an insight into the role of expression within philosophy and beyond.

By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Reconstruct, analyse and criticise the position found in a philosophical text or set of texts on which the module focuses.


2. Discuss a range of positions on the topic in a philosophical text or set of texts.


3. Be careful, critical readers of philosophical – and other – texts, able to understand philosophical nuances as well as the broader context of the arguments.

Syllabus information

The text (or set of texts) will change from year to year. Examples include:

• Plato, Gorgias


• R. Descartes, Metaphysical Meditations


• J.-J. Rousseau, The Social Contract


• S. Kierkegaard, Philosophical Crumbs


• J.L. Austin, How to Do Things with Words


• E.M. Anscombe, Intention


• M. Merleau-Ponty, The Prose of the World

We will read a classical philosophical text (or texts) closely and carefully and consider how it continues to speak to our philosophical concerns today. Intensively examining the text (or texts), we will treat it not only as a historical document, but principally with regard to its ongoing contribution to philosophical thinking. The focus of discussion will depend on the text(s) chosen.

This module will be delivered via:

• Two to three 2-hour seminars per week, for 5 weeks

The seminars will include lecture elements, but student engagement will be encouraged at all times. There will a focus on the close reading of texts, and we will be reading passages from the text together in the seminar. Students are expected to undertake the reading before classes and be prepared to engage in discussion.