Philosophy 1
First year philosophy 2025 will be a series of six sections (three in semester one and three in semester two) each of which will be taught by a different member of the Rhodes Philosophy staff. The idea is to introduce our first year students to an array of approaches to philosophical discourse and, indeed, to different understandings of what philosophy is. In general, Philosophy 101 (PHI101) and Philosophy 102 (PHI102) introduce students to philosophical ideas, issues and methods via topics in metaphysics, epistemology and ethics from a range of philosophical traditions.
Philosophy 101
Entrance Requirements: None
The course bears 15 credits at NQF Level 5.
DP requirements: at least 40% for course work.
Assessment: Coursework 60%; June exam 40%.
Philosophy 102
Entrance Requirements: None
The course bears 15 credits at NQF Level 5.
DP requirements: at least 40% for course work.
Assessment: Coursework 60%; June exam 40%.
Philosophy 101 (Semester 1, 2025)
Lecture Venue: General Lecture Theatre (GLT)
Module 1: Arguments for and against the existence of God
Prof. Tom Martin (t.martin@ru.ac.za)
We all know that some people believe that God exists and that others do not. In philosophy, the important question is not what people happen to believe, but what they, rationally, should believe. Should people believe that God exists or should they not believe that? Going further, should people believe that God does not exist?
In this module, students will be introduced to some arguments for and against belief in God’s existence - arguments that aim to show us what we should believe. While the existence of God is the theme of the module, its overriding purpose is to introduce students to the nature of philosophical argument in general, which should stand them in good stead in their future studies in philosophy and other disciplines
Module 2: Introduction to Philosophy of Mind
Dr. Tess Dewhurst (tess.dewhurst@ru.ac.za)
Atoms make up molecules, molecules make up cells, and humans are made up of cells that are organized in a particular way. However, it seems wrong to say that humans are merely an arrangement of atoms. We have thoughts, feelings, and rationality. The Philosophy of Mind is a branch of philosophy which addresses the question of how to make sense of our minds in a physical world. In this course we will look at arguments for the idea that the mind is a distinct type of substance (a non-physical substance), and for the idea that the mind just a physical thing, and at arguments that threaten both these positions. The aim is to get an understanding of the broad positions in the philosophy of mind, and also to become more familiar with how philosophers engage with each other in trying to make sense of the nature of ourselves in the world.
Module 3: Social Epistemology
Dr. Nolwandle Lembethe (nolwandle.lembethe@ru.ac.za)
Epistemology is the study of knowledge, and how we evaluate knowledge within traditional philosophy has been viewed as a primarily individual endeavor. In recent years, however, arguments have been made to emphasize the social dimension of knowledge, how we come to know, and what we know is impacted by people around us, as well as social processes. Social epistemology looks at how knowledge is produced within these social dimensions. We will examine what social factors lead to the validation of knowledge systems and processes and to what degree what we know is informed by the world around us.
Last Modified: Fri, 07 Feb 2025 20:41:36 SAST