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This module will provide an overview of Western Philosophy beginning from the modern period to present day. It will begin with the work of the philosopher Kant and end with Heidegger. It will contextualise the different methods within philosophy but will also allow students to study selected texts in detail.

The modules will begin with Kant’s revolution in philosophy but will situate this breakthrough within rationalism and empiricism. It will then follow the development of Kant’s thought in subsequent philosophy in Nietzsche, Hegel and Marx. It is also within the context of Kant’s philosophy that we can understand 20th century philosophy in continental and analytic philosophy. The module will explain what this divide means and will concentrate specifically on Russell, Ayer, Sartre, Bergson and Heidegger as examples of these different approaches. At the end of the module, students will have an opportunity to do independent research on contemporary philosophical methods and issues.

i. Knowledge and Understanding
By the end of the module students should be able to demonstrate that they:
a) Have a working knowledge of the key trends in Western philosophy from the modern period to the present day.
b) are able to trace the development of ideas through historical periods

ii. Skills
On completion of the module students should be able to demonstrate that they:
a) can articulate the issues that dominated the period under study
b) can identify problems by the category of philosophical enquiry they are associated with
c) can provide critical accounts of major philosophical trends of the period.

Staff/Student contact time: 20%
Student private study: 80%

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.