First Year

Handbook

Handbook 1st Arts Philosophy Academic Year 26_27.pdf

Modules

• Introduction to the History of Philosophy
• Critical Thinking & Logic
• Philosophical Questions & Issues
• Introduction to Practical Ethics 

Timetables

1^st Arts Semester One 2026/27

Lectures:

Students must attend all the lectures for all of their modules and should, where advised by their lecturer, complete the reading in advance. Students are responsible for taking their own notes during lectures and should arrive on time for their classes

Academic Calendar

Canvas

Familiarity with Canvas is essential. Course pages on Canvas will contain all communications from lecturers about their course, as well as notes, PowerPoint slides and further reading. In addition, attendance is monitored via Canvas, assignments are submitted there and sign-up for tutorials will take place on this platform. So, learning how to use Canvas as a new student will be vital to our successful delivery of a meaningful interactive learning experience.  

In your canvas account, you will be able to manage how often you receive email notifications from your modules. It is your responsibility to manage the information that you receive from the Learning Management system via the settings in your profile.  

Turning off all notifications is not advised as you may miss important announcements or messages from your module instructor. 

Please click on the link to become more familiar with our Virtual Learning Environment.

Course details

Compulsory/ Optional Courses:

All courses are compulsory for B.A. students (Joint Honours).     B.A. Denominated students do not have to take PI120 Philosophical Questions and Issues.

** If you are unsure which degree programme you are on, log into your registration page to check** 

Schedule of Courses:

Individual Course Details:

Introduction to History of Philosophy:

Lecturer:  Dr. O. Richardson

Course description:

This course introduces students to key thinkers and ideas in the history of western philosophy. Since ancient philosophy is so central to this history, the first half of the course is devoted to some of its most important achievements in the work of the pre-Socratics, Sophists, Plato, and Aristotle. Attention is then turned to aspects of medieval philosophy, and the great rationalist and empiricist traditions of modern philosophy. Lastly, lectures will also be offered on the 19th century philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. 

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination:  Examination & CA

Core texts:   

Copleston, F., History of Philosophy, Image Publishing  

Guthrie, W.K.C., The Greek Philosophers from Thales to Aristotle, Meuthen 

Introduction to Practical Ethics:

Lecturer: Dr. R. Hull

Course description: This course (Practical Ethics) provides a rigorous examination of a wide range of contemporary ethical issues. Students will learn about the ethical theories that tend to inform our practical decision making. Those theories will then be applied to a number of contemporary issues. These may include genetic selection, pre-natal testing, assisted death, social inequality and world poverty. Readings will be recommended for each topic via Canvas.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination: Overall assessment is by written essay at the end of the second semester (50%) and in-class examination(s) throughout the second semester (50%).  

Core texts:

Mizzoni, J. Ethics: the basics, Blackwell 2010.

La Follette, H, ed., Ethics in Practice: An Anthology, Wiley-Blackwell, 2006.

Singer, P. Practical Ethics, Cambridge University Press, 2011.  

Wolff, J. An introduction to moral philosophy, Norton, 2018.

Critical Thinking & Logic:

Lecturer:  Dr. N. Tosh

Course description: Successful humanities students are sophisticated consumers and producers of arguments. In this key skills module students will learn to distinguish arguments from other forms of persuasion; to map the argumentative structure of a complex text; to spot fallacious patterns of reasoning; and to apply some of the tools of elementary formal logic.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination:  Overall assessment is by continuous assessment in the first semester and a written examination in the second semester.

Core texts:         

The course is self-contained and there is no set text. However, for extension reading students may wish to consult the following:

Fisher, A. (2011). Critical Thinking: An Introduction.
Bowell, T. and Kemp, G. (2010). Critical Thinking: A Concise Guide.

Philosophical Questions & Issues:

Lecturers:    Dr. N. Ward (Semester One)
                     Prof. F. Ó Murchadha (Semester Two)         

Course description: This course aims to introduce students to a diversity of philosophical approaches to the problem of meaning and value. Issues covered will include some of the following: justice, poverty, love, death, totalitarianism, genetics and human life, human rights, free will, violence and the meaning of life.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials. It is team taught by different lecturers each year. More specific readings will be advised at the beginning of each semester.

Methods of assessment and examination:  Overall assessment is by an essay at the end of the first semester and a written examination at the end of the second semester. Mid-term assignment may be required.

Selected texts: 

Law, S., The Philosophy Gym: 25 Short Adventures in Thinking
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Various editions
Bretall, R. (ed.), A Kierkegaard Anthology
Plato, Symposium, various editions 
Barry, B., Democracy, power and justice
Wolff, J., An Introduction to Political Philosophy
John Locke, “Of Identity and Diversity” (II. Xxvii), in Essay on Human Understanding