Department of Philosophy

Guide to Modules for Third and Fourth Year

Students in 2018/19
Guide to Third and Fourth Year Modules for 2018 - 19
Contents

Section 1 – Introduction
Modules 1
Taught Modules 1
Advanced Modules 1
Dissertation (Short) 2
Dissertation (Long) 2
Second Year Option Modules 2
Elective Modules 2
Elective modules in the School of PEP 3
Languages for All 3
Changing Modules 3
Maximum Numbers on Modules 4

Section 2 – Degree Programme Structures

Philosophy Single Subject 5
Computer Science and Philosophy 5-6
English and Philosophy 6
Philosophy and Linguistics 6
French/German and Philosophy 7
History and Philosophy 7
Mathematics and Philosophy 8
Philosophy and Sociology 8
Physics with Philosophy 9

Section 3 – Module Details

Third Year Modules 10-13
Advanced Modules 14-15
All Year Module 15
Second Year Modules 16-18
MA Modules 19-23
Section 1 - Introduction

This guide sets out the assessed modules, which will be available to present second year students in their third
year, 2018-2019 (or present third year students in their fourth year if applicable). All current second year
students, whatever their combination, need to choose the Philosophy modules for their third year. These
choices can be reviewed later, with certain restrictions (see Changing Modules on the next page). Students on
joint programmes will hear from their other department about the modules they need to take with them.

Current second year students spending their third year abroad or on placements will make the module choices
for their final year in Spring Term 2019.

Students will need to register their module selections via an online system which will be made available
between 10 am on Monday 26th February and 5 pm on Monday 5th March 2017. More information about this
will be sent out shortly and students should check their University of York email account regularly for any
updates.

Advice from Supervisors

You are strongly advised to read through this Guide and then discuss your module options with your supervisor
before selecting the modules online. Supervisors are available during their Drop-in Feedback and Advice Time
sessions or at other times by special arrangement. These sessions are available at: Staff Contact Details – Spring
Term 2018 and are also posted on the wall near the Philosophy office.

If you are a joint student and your supervisor is not in Philosophy you can discuss your choices with the following
Philosophy members of staff who act as Joint Programme Advisers whose contact and availability details can be
found at the link above:

English/Philosophy – Peter Lamarque

History/Philosophy – David Efird
Maths/Philosophy – Mary Leng
Physics/Philosophy – Mary Leng
Computer Science/Philosophy – Johan Gustafsson
Linguistics/Philosophy – Barry Lee
French or German/Philosophy – Barry Lee
Sociology/Philosophy – David Efird

MODULES
All Philosophy modules taken in the second and third year are University assessed modules and count towards
the Final Degree. Students must take 120 credits over the course of the year. This includes modules taken for
assessment in any other department.

Taught Modules (normally 20 credits)

Most of your work will be concentrated on taught modules, for which there will be lectures and/or seminars.

Advanced Modules (AM) (10 credits)

These are modules which involve private study, guided by a supervisor. Advanced Modules provide an
opportunity for further study on the topic of a taught module and can only be taken in the corresponding taught
module. Essays for advanced modules are submitted on Wednesday of Week 6 of Term 9 (third year).

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Dissertation (Short) (20 credits)

A student who wants to work independently in the third year on some particular aspect of a philosopher or on a
fairly restricted or specialised topic can apply to the Board of Studies for permission to do a term-long Short
Dissertation (4000 words), submitting a plan of their proposed subject. The subject proposed should not be a
mere duplication of topics covered in already available modules, though it may comprise a substantial and
detailed development of such a topic. If the Short Dissertation is approved, the student will work under the
supervision of a member of staff (whose agreement should be obtained before applying to the Board).

Dissertation (Long) (40 Credits)

A student who wants to work independently in the third year on an extended investigation of some particular
aspect of a philosopher or on a fairly restricted or specialised topic can apply to the Board of Studies for
permission to do a year-long Long Dissertation, submitting a plan of their proposed subject. The subject
proposed should not be a mere duplication of topics covered in already available modules, though it may
comprise a substantial and detailed development of such a topic. The Long Dissertation is assessed by 1) a
Dissertation Outline (1000 words) and Annotated Bibliography (2000 words) due Week 2 Spring Term, and 2) an
8000 word essay due Week 6 Summer Term. The Long Dissertation is only available to single subject students,
and students need a Stage 2 average of at least 60 to be eligible.

Please note: a student wishing to take the long dissertation does not select it via the online option module app.
Instead, they should select their normal 120 credits for the year and email Carol Dixon (carol.dixon@york.ac.uk)
by 5th March 2018 with an expression of interest in taking the long dissertation. They will then be required to
submit a research proposal to be considered by the Summer Term Week 6 meeting of the Board of Studies. If
the proposal is approved and the student achieves a Stage 2 average of 60 or above they will added to the
module at the end of the Summer Term.

Second Year Option Modules (10 credits)

Third year students on some programmes may, subject to timetabling constraints, choose one or two 10 credit
second year option Modules. Please check your degree programme structure on pages 5-9 for further
information. Please note that you are not permitted to repeat a second year module that you have already
taken in your second year.

Elective modules – choosing a module outside the Philosophy Department

Within the University Elective Module scheme the opportunity exists in some degree programmes to substitute
modules in other Departments for some Philosophy modules. If you wish to take any elective module you
should first consult the University's Compendium of Elective Modules on the York Web at
http://www.york.ac.uk/admin/sro/electives.htm, see your supervisor or joint programme adviser, and then
enquire in the relevant department whether space is available. Forms for elective registration are available on
line at: http://www.york.ac.uk/philosophy/current/undergraduate/modules/#tab-4 and also from Carol Dixon in
the Philosophy Office to whom the form must be returned on completion by the Department offering the
Elective. The University imposes an upper limit on the amount of credits you may take as Electives or LFA
modules. This is 40 credits over years two and three.

Please note: as there is no guarantee that there would be a place available on an elective of your choice or
that it would be compatible with your timetable, when choosing your modules for 2018/19 you should ensure
that you select 120 credits of modules from your degree programme. If it is subsequently confirmed that a
place is available on the elective and that it fits in with your timetable you may apply to replace one of your
modules with an elective by using the elective form mentioned above.

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Elective Modules in the School of PEP

There are two interdisciplinary third year 20-credit modules in the School of PEP which are co-taught by
members of the Philosophy Department and which have substantial philosophical content. These are:

Ethics and Public Policy (co-taught with Politics)

Rationality, Morality, and Economics (co-taught with Economics)

Further information on these modules is available from the School of PEP: http://www.york.ac.uk/pep/. These
modules are managed by the School of PEP and should be applied for in the same way as any other elective. To
register an interest in either of the modules please email pep-module-choices@york.ac.uk.

Languages for All – modules taught by the Language Teaching Centre

The opportunity also exists on some degree programmes to substitute Philosophy modules with Languages for
All (LFA) modules. If you wish to take an LFA module you should first consult the LFA webpages:
www.york.ac.uk/inst/ltc/lfa , and discuss this option carefully with your supervisor or joint programme adviser.

Please also note that if you opt to take an LFA module that is below the level appropriate to your stage (ie,
below third year) this may be approved but the module will only be marked on a pass/fail basis and the credits
would not be used to calculate the overall degree mark. Please contact Carol Dixon in the Philosophy
Department for further details.

Practical considerations (e.g. timetable clashes, over-subscription, or pre-requisites in the other Department)
may mean you are not able to get onto a specific elective or LFA module.

The University imposes an upper limit on the amount of credits you may take as Electives or LFA modules.
This is 40 credits over years two and three.

CHANGING MODULES
Before the start of a module: You may change a module to which you are registered, for another one, provided
that places are available and it is compatible with your timetable. To do this you should consult your supervisor
or joint programme adviser and then inform Carol Dixon (carol.dixon@york.ac.uk).

No change of module will be recognised unless notification of it has been received and acknowledged by
Carol Dixon in the Department office.

You should bear in mind that module changes are permitted only where they comply with the programme
structure for your degree course, and where modules are not already fully subscribed. (See the following
section about maximum numbers on modules.)

After the start of a module:

In general you may leave or change a module only until the end of the second week of teaching (normally the
end of week 3). After that time you are committed to being assessed for that module. However, due to the
restricted number of teaching weeks in the Summer Term, Second year 10-credit modules taken in the
Summer Term cannot be changed once term has started.

Only where there are exceptional reasons, such as illness, and with the permission of the Board of Studies and
the University’s Special Cases Committee, can you drop out of a module after the deadline.

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MAXIMUM NUMBERS ON MODULES
Modules are normally subject to a maximum number cap:

Third year 20-credit modules: 45

Second year lecture-based option modules: 45
Second year reading group modules: 30

Third year Advanced Modules will only be capped if it is not possible to provide adequate supervision for
practical reasons.

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Section 2 - Degree Programme Structure
Your choice of modules for the third year is governed by the programme structure for your degree programme,
as detailed below but there are two general rules which apply to all programmes:

1. All students may take a maximum of 60 credits and a minimum of 20 credits in any term. A module
lasting more than one term is considered to have its credits spread evenly across its duration.

2. All students should take 120 credits in the third year, including credits taken in other departments if
they are combined students, and any elective modules.

These rules are meant to protect you from over-burdening yourself. The credit value of a module reflects the
time spent in teaching and learning.

Philosophy Single Subject

Year (Stage) 3 (120 credits)

 Students choose from a range of 20 credit third year modules and must take 20 credits of Advanced
Modules.
 Students may substitute up to 20 credits of third year 20-credit modules with 20 credits of second year
10-credit option modules (subject to timetabling constraints), electives or Languages for All modules.*
 Students may replace the 20 credits of Advanced Modules along with 20 further credits with the 40-
credit Dissertation.
 Please note that at least 100 credits have to be taken in 3rd year modules.

*The University imposes an upper limit on the amount of credits you may take as electives or LFA modules.
This is 40 credits in total over stages two and three.

Combined Degrees

All joint students should also consult the handbooks from their other departments. Degree programme
structures for Politics/Economics/Philosophy, Natural Sciences, and Social and Political Sciences with Philosophy
are available on those departments’ websites.

Computer Science and Philosophy

Year 3 (Stage 3)
Students must take a total of 120 credits over the year.
 Students must take a minimum of 40 credits in both Computer Science and Philosophy.
 Students take a minimum of 60 credits in either Computer Science or Philosophy.
 Students either take the 40-credit Computer Science & Philosophy project module COM00019H or 20
credits of Philosophy Advanced Modules and 40 credits of Philosophy non-advanced modules.
 Students take at least 20 credits of non-project Computer Science modules.
 Students may substitute up to 20 credits of third year modules with 20 credits of second year option
modules (subject to timetabling constraints), electives or Languages for All modules.*
 *The University imposes an upper limit on the amount of credits you may take as electives or LFA
modules. This is 40 credits in total over stages two and three.

5
Year 4 (Stage 4)

There are no core modules in Stage 4. Students take 40-60 credits of modules from the MA in Philosophy
(including, optionally, a 20 credit research project). Students have the option of taking a Computer Science
project, if they have not done so at Stage 3. Students choose modules subject to the following constraints:

 Students take a minimum of 40 credits in both Computer Science and Philosophy.

 Students take a minimum of 60 credits in either Computer Science or Philosophy.
 Students take at least 20 credits of non-project Computer Science modules.
 Students may take up to 20 credits of elective modules.

English and Philosophy EQ

Year 3 (Stage 3)
You must take a total of 120 credits, with a minimum of 40 credits in each department (excluding the bridge
module).

Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term

One Philosophy Third Year One Philosophy Third Year Option
Option (20) (20)
ONE of a range of English ONE of a range of English Special
Special modules (20) modules (20)
Philosophy & Literature Bridge
Module (core 20)
20 further credits made up from one of the following:
a) ONE additional autumn term Philosophy Third Year Option, or
b) ONE additional autumn term English Period or Special module, or
c) TWO 10-credit Philosophy modules chosen from Advanced Modules* (summer term) and/or Second
Year Option modules (autumn or summer)
d) Elective modules**

*Advanced Modules are taken in the Summer Term (Term 9) and must be taken in the same 20-credit third
year Philosophy module(s) taken in Terms 7 and/or 8.

**Electives may be taken in place of 20 credits of English or Philosophy option modules but require approval
from the Joint English/Philosophy Board of Studies. Please note that students may not take an elective
module and 2nd year option modules.

Philosophy and Linguistics EQ

Year 3 (Stage 3)
Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term
Any 20 credits of Linguistics Any 40 credits of Linguistics modules and/or electives.*
modules and/or electives*
Philosophy option (20) Philosophy option (20) Philosophy advanced module
(10)
Other 10-credit phil. module or further advanced module (10) or elective module – in any one of the
terms

6
*Students may replace a maximum of 20 credits of Linguistics with electives for LFA modules. Only 40 credits of
electives or LFA modules may be taken over Stages 2 and 3.

French/German and Philosophy EQ

Year 4 (Stage 3)
(Third year of study at York but fourth year of programme).
Autumn Term Spring Term Summer Term
French/German language and society III (20, core, French/German)
At least 20 further credits in the target language, from among the Language options.
Linguistics option, French/German option module or Elective (20 credits)
Philosophy option (20)* Philosophy option (20)* Philosophy advanced module
(10)
French/German philosophy text (bridge) module (10) – in either Autumn or Spring Term. For 2018/19 it
will take place in the Spring Term.
 *Either of these modules may be replaced by 2nd year Philosophy option modules or
LFA/Elective modules. *The University imposes an upper limit on the amount of credits you may
take as Electives or LFA modules. This is 40 credits in total over stages two and three.

History and Philosophy EQ

Year (Stage) 3
The credits of this degree may be weighted in each department as follows:

 60/60: Students choose two 20-credit Philosophy modules in term 8 and take the compulsory 10-credit
Philosophy/History bridge module (Philosophy of History) in term 7, along with an Advanced module in
term 9. Students may replace one of the 20-credit Philosophy modules with Second Year Philosophy 10-
credit option modules, or an LFA or elective module provided that no electives or LFA modules have
been taken instead of History modules (subject to timetabling constraints).*
 80 History/40 Philosophy: Students take the 10-credit Philosophy/History bridge module (Philosophy of
History) in term 7, along with a Third Year 20-credit Philosophy module in term 8 and an Advanced
Module in term 9
 *The University imposes an upper limit on the amount of credits you may take as Electives or LFA
modules. This is 40 credits in total over stages two and three.

7
Mathematics and Philosophy EQ

Year (Stage) 3
The credits of this degree may be weighted in each department as follows:

1. Students not taking the Maths project:

Students take the compulsory 20-credit Maths/Philosophy bridge module, Foundations of Maths in
term 8, a further 20-credit Philosophy module in term 7, and two 10-credit Advanced Modules in term
9. They take 40 credits of Third year Mathematics modules. The other 20 credits can be taken in
Mathematics, Philosophy (including Second Year 10-credit modules), or elective or LFA modules (subject
to timetabling constraints).*
2. Students taking the Maths project:
Students take 40 credits of Maths modules plus the 40-credit Maths project. In addition they take the
compulsory 20-credit Maths/Philosophy bridge module, Foundations of Maths in term 8, and a further
20-credit third year Philosophy module*The University imposes an upper limit on the amount of credits
you may take as Electives or LFA modules. This is 40 credits in total over stages two and three.

Philosophy and Sociology EQ

Year (Stage) 3
 Students must take two 20-credit Philosophy modules and two 20-credit Sociology modules across
terms 7 and 8.
 In addition, students take:
o either, the 40-credit Sociology dissertation (80 credits Sociology/40 credits Philosophy),
o or, 40 credits of Third year Philosophy modules (80 credits Philosophy/40 credits Sociology),
o or, 20 credits of Philosophy and 20 credits of Sociology with the option of replacing 20
Philosophy credits with an elective or LFA module or Second year Philosophy 10-credit modules
(subject to timetabling constraints).
 *The University imposes an upper limit on the amount of credits you may take as Electives or LFA
modules. This is 40 credits in total over stages two and three.

8
Physics with Philosophy 3 Year Bsc

Year (Stage) 3 (40 credits in Philosophy)

 Students take the core module Philosophy of Physics (20 credits) in term 7 and choose a 20-credit
Philosophy third year option module in term 7 or 8. Students may replace the 20-credit Philosophy
option module with the 10-credit Advanced Module in Philosophy of Physics in term 9 and either a
second year Philosophy 10-credit option module or an elective module (subject to timetabling
constraints).

Physics with Philosophy 4 year MPhys

Year (Stage) 3 (40 credits in Philosophy)

 Students take the core module Philosophy of Physics (20 credits) in term 7 and choose a 20 credit
Philosophy third year option module in term 7 or 8. Students may replace the 20-credit Philosophy
option module with the 10-credit Advanced Module in Philosophy of Physics in term 9 and either a
second year Philosophy 10-credit option module or an elective module (subject to timetabling
constraints).

Year (Stage) 4 (40 credits in Philosophy from the MA in Philosophy programme)

 Students take PHI00020M Topics in Theoretical Philosophy (20 credits) in term 10 and one of the
following 20-credit Philosophy MA modules in term 11:

o PHI0003M Foundations of Maths*

o PHI00039M German Idealism*
o PHI00037M Consciousness*
o PHI00046M Philosophy of Film*
o PHI00052M Value and the Meaning of Life*
o PHI00033M Philosophy & Cognitive Diversity*
o PHI00019M Topics in Practical Philosophy

Students may not select any module marked with * if they have taken the undergraduate version of it in their
third year.

9
Section 3 – Module Table Details

(A) Year (Stage) 3 Modules

AUTUMN TERM 2018

MOD CODE MODULE NAME YEAR ASSESSMENT CREDITS LINK FOR FURTHER
DETAILS
PHI00002H CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN 3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk/
BIOETHICS students/studying/mana
Brief details: ge/programmes/module-
This module will explore catalogue/module/PHI00
philosophically the moral 002H/2018-19
implications of advances in
sciences related to medicine.
PHI00041H DISSERTATION (SHORT) 3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk/
Brief details: students/studying/mana
This module enables students to ge/programmes/module-
work independently on a well- catalogue/module/PHI00
defined philosophical problem, 041H/2018-19
chosen by themselves with
guidance from a supervisor.
PHI00105H FROM MARX TO CRITICAL 3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk
THEORY /students/studying/man
Brief details: age/programmes/modu
The module aims to introduce le-
students to key debates, catalogue/module/PHI0
positions, and arguments in what 0105H/2018-19
has come to be known as
"Western Marxism" and "Critical
Theory".
PHI00046H LANGUAGE AND MIND 3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk/
Brief details: students/studying/mana
This module will consider topics ge/programmes/module-
that sit at the intersection of catalogue/module/PHI00
Philosophy of Mind and Language: 046H/2018-19
centrally, it will focus on what
account is to be given of a
speaker’s ability to understand a
language but will lead up to this by
looking at such topics as truth,
reference and sense.
PHI00093H METAPHYSICS OF MIND 3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk/
Brief details: students/studying/mana
This module will explore the ge/programmes/module-
relationship between the mind catalogue/module/PHI00
and the external world, focusing 093H/2018-19
on nonphysicalist theories of
consciousness and reality.
PHI00091H PHILOSOPHY OF ART FROM HUME 3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk/
TO TOLSTOY students/studying/mana
Brief details: ge/programmes/module-
The aim of this module is to catalogue/module/PHI00
investigate central themes in 18th 091H/2018-19

10
 and 19th century aesthetic theory.
PHI00021H PHILOSOPHY OF HISTORY
(Hist/Phil students only for whom it
is compulsory)
Brief details:
This module introduces the
philosophy of history of R.G.
Collingwood, a 20th Century thinker
broadly the tradition of British
Idealism, and the most important
British philosophy of history.
PHI00103H PHILOSOPHY OF LAW
Brief details:
This module will introduce
students to some key debates,
positions and arguments in the
philosophy of law.
PHI00013H PHILOSOPHY OF PHYSICS
(compulsory for Physics/Phil;
optional for other students)
Brief details:
To examine some of the
philosophical and conceptual
problems raised by classical,
relativistic and quantum physics
PHI00102H PHILOSOPHY OF PSYCHOLOGY
Brief details:
This module will explore the impact
of scientific theorising about the
mind on our everyday
understanding of ourselves.
3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.uk/
students/studying/mana
ge/programmes/module-
catalogue/module/PHI00
021H/2018-19
3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk
/students/studying/man
age/programmes/modu
le-
catalogue/module/PHI0
0103H/2018-19
3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk/
students/studying/mana
ge/programmes/module-
catalogue/module/PHI00
013H/2018-19
3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk/
students/studying/mana
ge/programmes/module-
catalogue/module/PHI00
102H/2018-19
11
SPRING TERM 2019
MOD CODE MODULE NAME YEAR ASSESSMENT CREDITS LINK FOR FUTHER
DETAILS
PHI00018H CONSCIOUSNESS 3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk
Brief details: /students/studying/ma
The module will focus on nage/programmes/mo
philosophical approaches to the dule-
understanding of catalogue/module/PHI0
consciousness. The topics to be 0018H/2018-19
covered will be: consciousness
and the explanatory gap;
eliminativism; functionalism
and qualia; higher order
thought and availability for
higher order thought theories
of consciousness,
representationalism about
consciousness.
PHI00041H DISSERTATION (SHORT) 3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk
Brief details: /students/studying/ma
This module enables students nage/programmes/mo
to work independently on a dule-
well-defined philosophical catalogue/module/PHI0
problem, chosen by themselves 0041H/2018-19
with guidance from a
supervisor.
PHI00017H FOUNDATIONS OF MATHS 3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk
(COMPULSORY FOR /students/studying/ma
MATHS/PHIL; OPTIONAL FOR nage/programmes/mo
OTHER STUDENTS) dule-
Brief details: catalogue/module/PHI0
This module will exploring some 0017H/2018-19
key issues in the philosophy of
mathematics, including the
foundations of maths
PHI00057H FRENCH AND PHILOSOPHY 3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.u
TEXT MODULE (French/Phil k/students/studying/
students only for whom it is manage/programmes/
compulsory) module-
catalogue/module/PHI
00057H/2018-19
PHI00073H GERMAN IDEALISM 3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk
Brief details: /students/studying/ma
This module will provide an nage/programmes/mo
introduction to the moral, legal, dule-
and political philosophy of catalogue/module/PHI0
German idealists such as Fichte, 0073H/2018-19
Schelling, and Hegel.

PHI00048H PHILOSOPHY & COGNITIVE 3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk

DIVERSITY /students/studying/ma
Brief details: nage/programmes/mo
The module engages in debates dule-

12
 about the epistemic catalogue/module/PHI0
significance, and metaphysical 0048H/2018-19
significance of cognitive
diversity
PHI00082H PHILOSOPHY OF FILM 3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.u
Brief details: k/students/studying/
This module examines some of manage/programmes/
the key issues, claims and module-
assumptions involved in catalogue/module/PHI
various philosophical 00082H/2018-19
approaches to narrative films
and film-makingl
ENG00029H PHILOSOPHY & LITERATURE 3 Essay 20 Details will be provided
(English/Philosophy students by the English
only, compulsory) Department
Administered by English
Department
PHI00075H VALUE AND MEANING OF LIFE, 3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk
THE /students/studying/ma
Brief details: nage/programmes/mo
This module explores some key dule-
issues concerning value, and the catalogue/module/PHI0
different kinds of value, in 0075H/2018-19
particular as this relates to
human and non-human life. We
will ask, what makes a life
worth living/worth
stating/worth saving?

PHI00097H WITTGENSTEIN AND 3 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.u

PHILOSOPHY k/students/studying/
Brief details: manage/programmes/
Wittgenstein’s philosophical module-
writings are among the most catalogue/module/PHI
striking and influential 00097H/2018-19
contributions to philosophy
from the 20th century. This
module will provide an
opportunity for students to
engage in critical study of his
most important writings.

13
SUMMER TERM 2019

ADVANCED MODULES
(THESE MODULES CAN ONLY BE TAKEN IF THE 20-CREDIT VERSION OF THE MODULE HAS BEEN
TAKEN)

MODULE MODULE NAME YEAR ASSESS- CREDITS LINK FOR FURTHER DETAILS
CODE MENT
The aim of Advanced Modules is to provide students with an opportunity to return to an issue
raised in the corresponding third year Taught Module, having had the opportunity to reflect,
under the guidance of the Tutor, on the module content as a whole together perhaps with the
content of other, related modules students may have taken. The outcome of this reflection is
an essay of 2500 words relating to that issue.
PHI00033H CONSCIOUSNESS 3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.uk/students/study
AM
ing/manage/programmes/module-
catalogue/module/PHI00033H/2018-19
PHI00036H CONTEMPORARY 3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.uk/students/study
ISSUES IN
ing/manage/programmes/module-
BIOETHICS AM
catalogue/module/PHI00036H/2018-19
PHI00032H FOUNDATIONS OF 3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.uk/students/study
MATHS AM
ing/manage/programmes/module-
catalogue/module/PHI00032H/2018-19
PHI00109H FROM MARX TO 3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.uk/students/stu
CRITICAL THEORY
dying/manage/programmes/module-
AM
catalogue/module/PHI00109H/2018-
19
PHI00076H GERMAN 3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.uk/students/study
IDEALISM AM
ing/manage/programmes/module-
catalogue/module/PHI00076H/2018-19
PHI00051H LANGUAGE AND 3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.uk/students/study
MIND AM
ing/manage/programmes/module-
catalogue/module/PHI00051H/2018-19
PHI00094H METAPHYSICS OF 3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.uk/students/study
MIND AM
ing/manage/programmes/module-
catalogue/module/PHI00094H/2018-19
PHI00053H PHILOSOPHY & 3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.uk/students/study
COGNITIVE
ing/manage/programmes/module-
DIVERSITY AM
catalogue/module/PHI00053H/2018-19
PHI00092H PHILOSOPHY OF 3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.uk/students/study
ART FROM HUME

14
 TO TOLSTOY AM ing/manage/programmes/module-
catalogue/module/PHI00092H/2018-19
PHI00086H PHILOSOPHY OF 3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.uk/students/study
FILM AM
ing/manage/programmes/module-
catalogue/module/PHI00086H/2018-19
PHI00107H PHILOSOPHY OF 3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.uk/students/stu
LAW AM
dying/manage/programmes/module-
catalogue/module/PHI00107H/2018-
19
PHI00028H PHILOSOPHY OF 3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.uk/students/study
PHYSICS AM
ing/manage/programmes/module-
catalogue/module/PHI00028H/2018-19
PHI00104H PHILOSOPHY OF 3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.uk/students/study
PSYCHOLOGY AM
ing/manage/programmes/module-
catalogue/module/PHI00104H/2018-19
PHI00077H VALUE AND 3 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.uk/students/study
MEANING OF LIFE
ing/manage/programmes/module-
AM
catalogue/module/PHI00077H/2018-19

(C) Year (Stage) 3 All Year Module

MODULE MODULE NAME YEAR ASSESS- CREDITS LINK FOR FURTHER DETAILS
CODE MENT
PHI00101H DISSERTATION (LONG) 3 Essay 40 https://www.york.ac.uk/students/study
(Optional module, only ing/manage/programmes/module-
available for catalogue/module/PHI00101H/2018-19
Philosophy Single
Subject students
Brief details:
This module enables
students to work
independently on an
extended piece of
work addressing a
well-defined
philosophical problem,
chosen by themselves
with guidance from a
supervisor.

15
(D) Year (Stage) 2 Option Modules
YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR DEGREE STRUCTURE ON PAGES 5-9 TO CHECK WHETHER OR NOT YOU
ARE ALLOWED TO CHOOSE FROM THESE MODULES

Second Year Option Modules

Autumn 2018
MODULE MODULE NAME YEAR ASSESSMENT CREDITS LINK FOR FURTHER
CODE DETAILS
PHI00056I EFFECTIVE ALTRUISM 2 Essay 10
Brief details:
Many of us want our lives https://www.york.ac.u
to “make a difference”. k/students/studying/
But what exactly does manage/programmes/
this amount to? Is it a module-
realistic goal? How might catalogue/module/PHI
it be best pursued? In this 00056I/2018-19
module we explore and
critically assess the
answers to these
questions offered by the
Effective Altruism
movement
PHI00042I IMAGINATION 2 Exam 10 https://www.york.ac.u
Brief details: k/students/studying/
This module examines manage/programmes/
the role of the module-
imagination in catalogue/module/PHI
epistemology, philosophy 00042I/2018-19
of mind and aesthetics
from historical and
contemporary
perspectives.
PHI00008I PHILOSOPHY OF TIME 2 Exam 10 https://www.york.ac.u
Brief details: k/students/studying/
This module will manage/programmes/
introduce students to module-
some of the central catalogue/module/PHI
philosophical questions 00008I/2018-19
concerning the nature of
time.
PHI00019I READING PLATO 2 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.u
Brief details: k/students/studying/
This module will promote manage/programmes/
engagement with Plato’s module-
ideas through close catalogue/module/PHI
textual study of a Platonic 00019I/2018-19
dialogue.

16
Spring 2019
MODULE MODULE NAME YEAR ASSESSMENT CREDITS LINK FOR FURTHER
CODE DETAILS
PHI00071I HEGEL 2 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.u
Brief details: k/students/studying/
An introduction manage/programmes/
to Hegel’s module-
philosophy catalogue/module/PHI
through his 00071I/2018-19
Phenomenology
of Spirit
PHI00105I PHILOSOPHY OF 2 Exam 10 https://www.york.ac.u
SOCIAL SCIENCE k/students/studying/
Brief details: manage/programmes/
The module aims module-
to develop an catalogue/module/PHI
understanding of 00105I/2018-19
the nature of our
society and of our
knowledge of it
through
philosophical
examination of
the social
sciences.
PHI00101I READING SARTRE 2 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.u
Brief details: k/students/studying/
This module will manage/programmes/
provide a close module-
reading of catalogue/module/PHI
selected passages 00101I/2018-19
from Sartre’s
work on
existentialism.

Summer 2019
MODULE MODULE NAME YEAR ASSESSMENT CREDI LINK FOR FURTHER
CODE TS DETAILS
PHI00013I CAUSATION & LAWS 2 Exam 10 https://www.york.ac.u
Brief details: k/students/studying/
This module manage/programmes/
introduces the topics module-
of causation, laws of catalogue/module/PHI
nature and the 00013I/2018-19
relationship between
these two subject
matters of
philosophical study.
PHI00048I EPISTEMIC 2 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.u
NORMATIVITY k/students/studying/
Brief details: manage/programmes/

17
 In this module we will module-
investigate the source catalogue/module/PHI
of epistemic norms, 00048I/2018-19
we will try to explain
why they are binding,
and we will consider
their relation to other
norms.
PHI00102I LIES, BULLSHIT, 2 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.u
PERVERSIONS AND k/students/studying/
PROPAGANDA manage/programmes/
Brief details: module-
This module looks at catalogue/module/PHI
papers in philosophy 00102I/2018-19
of language and social
epistemology which
deal with assertion
and implicature,
testimony, and the
dissemination of
(dis)information for
political purposes.
PHI00063I ROUSSEAU 2 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.u
Brief details: k/students/studying/
This module provides manage/programmes/
students with an module-
introduction to catalogue/module/PHI
Rousseau’s philosophy 00063I/2018-19
through the close
study of selections
from his work
PHI00100I STRUCTURE OF THE 2 Essay 10 https://www.york.ac.u
GOOD k/students/studying/
Brief details: manage/programmes/
This module considers module-
the structural issues catalogue/module/PHI
within evaluative 00100I/2018-19
deliberation and
thought.

18
(E) Year (Stage) 4 Masters Modules
(These modules are only available for Stage 4 students on the
integrated masters programmes for Computer Science/Philosophy, and
Physics with Philosophy)

AUTUMN TERM 2018

MODULE MODULE NAME YEAR ASSESS- CREDITS LINK FOR FURTHER DETAILS
CODE MENT
PHI00020M TOPICS IN 4 (MA) Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk/stud
THEORETICAL ents/studying/manage/progr
PHILOSOPHY ammes/module-
(compulsory for catalogue/module/PHI00020
MPhys/Phil M/2018-19
students; optional
for MComp/Phil
students)
Brief details:
To consider some
key issues relating to
issues in Theoretical
Philosophy,
especially issues in
Metaphysics,
Epistemology,
Philosophy of
Language and
Philosophy of Mind.
PHI00051M CONTEMPORARY 4 (MA) Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk/stude
ISSUES IN BIOETHICS nts/studying/manage/program
Brief details: mes/module-
This module will catalogue/module/PHI00051M
explore /2018-19
philosophically the
moral implications of
advances in sciences
related to medicine.
PHI00060M FROM MARX TO 4 (MA) Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk/stud
CRITICAL THEORY ents/studying/manage/progr
Brief details: ammes/module-
The module aims to catalogue/module/PHI00060
introduce students M/2018-19
to key debtes,
positions, and
arguments in what
has come to be
known as "Western
Marxism" and
"Critical Theory".

19
PHI00030M LANGUAGE AND 4 (MA) Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk/stude
MIND nts/studying/manage/program
Brief details: mes/module-
This module will catalogue/module/PHI00030M
consider topics that /2018-19
sit at the intersection
of Philosophy of Mind
and Language:
centrally, it will focus
on what account is to
be given of a
speaker’s ability to
understand a
language but will lead
up to this by looking
at such topics as
truth, reference and
sense.
PHI00050M METAPHYSICS OF 4 (MA) Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk/stude
MIND nts/studying/manage/program
Brief details: mes/module-
This module will catalogue/module/PHI00050M
explore the /2018-19
relationship between
the mind and the
external world,
focusing on
nonphysicalist
theories of
consciousness and
reality.
PHI00049M PHILOSOPHY OF ART 4 (MA) Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk/stude
FROM HUME TO nts/studying/manage/program
TOLSTOY mes/module-
Brief details: catalogue/module/PHI00049M
The aim of this /2018-19
module is to
investigate central
themes in 18th and
19th century
aesthetic theory.
PHI00059M PHILOSOPHY OF 4 (MA) Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk/stud
LAW ents/studying/manage/progr
Brief details: ammes/module-
This module will catalogue/module/PHI00059
introduce students M/2018-19
to some key debates,
positions and
arguments in the
philosophy of law.
PHI00058M PHILOSOPHY OF 4 (MA) Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk/stude
PSYCHOLOGY nts/studying/manage/program
Brief details: mes/module-
This module will catalogue/module/PHI00058M

20
 explore the impact of /2018-19
scientific theorising
about the mind on
our everyday
understanding of
ourselves.

Spring Term 2018

MOD CODE MODULE NAME YEAR ASSESSMENT CREDITS LINK FOR FUTHER
DETAILS
PHI00037M CONSCIOUSNESS 4 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk
Brief details: (MA) /students/studying/ma
The module will focus on nage/programmes/mo
philosophical approaches to the dule-
understanding of catalogue/module/PHI0
consciousness. The topics to be 0037M/2018-19
covered will be: consciousness
and the explanatory gap;
eliminativism; functionalism
and qualia; higher order
thought and availability for
higher order thought theories
of consciousness,
representationalism about
consciousness.
PHI00032M FOUNDATIONS OF MATHS 4 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk
Brief details: (MA) /students/studying/ma
This module will exploring some nage/programmes/mo
key issues in the philosophy of dule-
mathematics, including the catalogue/module/PHI0
foundations of maths 0032M/2018-19
PHI00039M GERMAN IDEALISM 4 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk
Brief details: (MA) /students/studying/ma
This module will provide an nage/programmes/mo
introduction to the moral, legal, dule-
and political philosophy of catalogue/module/PHI0
German idealists such as Fichte, 0039M/2018-19
Schelling, and Hegel.

PHI00033M PHILOSOPHY & COGNITIVE 4 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk

DIVERSITY (MA) /students/studying/ma
Brief details: nage/programmes/mo
The module engages in debates dule-
about the epistemic catalogue/module/PHI0
significance, and metaphysical 0033M/2018-19
significance of cognitive
diversity
PHI00046M PHILOSOPHY OF FILM 4 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.u
Brief details: (MA) k/students/studying/
This module examines some of manage/programmes/

21
 the key issues, claims and module-
assumptions involved in catalogue/module/PHI
various philosophical 00046M/2018-19
approaches to narrative films
and film-makingl
PHI00019M TOPICS IN PRACTICAL 4 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.u
PHILOSOPHY (MA) k/students/studying/
Brief details: manage/programmes/
This module considers some module-
key issues raised by catalogue/module/PHI
philosophers concerning 00019M/2018-19
normative and political theory
PHI00052M VALUE AND MEANING OF LIFE, 4 Essay 20 https://www.york.ac.uk
THE (MA) /students/studying/ma
Brief details: nage/programmes/mo
This module explores some key dule-
issues concerning value, and the catalogue/module/PHI0
different kinds of value, in 0052M/2018-19
particular as this relates to
human and non-human life. We
will ask, what makes a life
worth living/worth
stating/worth saving?

22