Truth, Knowledge, and Objectivity

Module overview

The central goals of enquiry are to discover what the world is like and how we ought to live. A simple and initially attractive picture is that there is a world independent of us that we can learn about via experience, and via reasoning. But both parts of this picture are subject to significant philosophical worries. Is the world truly independent of us, or do we somehow construct it – are truths about beauty and ethics, race and gender, dependent on our beliefs and relative to our perspectives? Does the existence of widespread disagreement in these areas show that there is no independent fact of the matter? Can we really know about a world independent of us given that we are subject to error and illusion, and that we can doubt all of our beliefs? Are there some truths that can’t be known or that can’t be known by certain groups of people?

Aims and Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

undertake, with adequate supervision, independent work, including identifying and using appropriate resources.
work on the analysis and evaluation of texts.
take notes from talks and written materials.
work effectively to deadlines.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

some central issues about our capacity to know about the world
some central issues about the idea of objective truth

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

present and debate philosophical ideas in an open minded and rigorous way.
interpret, synthesise and criticise philosophically complex texts and positions

Learning and Teaching

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

Lectures
In-class discussion
Tutorials

Learning activities include

Attending lectures
Contributing to discussion in lectures and tutorials
Doing research for and writing assessed essays
Applying techniques and skills learnt to your reading and writing inside and outside the module

Study time
Type	Hours
Tutorial	7
Independent Study	110
Lecture	33
Total study time	150

Resources & Reading list

Internet Resources

Truth, at the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.

Textbooks

Simon Blackburn (2006). Truth. Penguin.

Bertrand Russell. The Problems of Philosophy. Various.

Assessment

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Essay Essay Essay proposal

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Essay	50%
Essay	50%

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Timed Assignment	100%

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.

Breakdown
Method	Percentage contribution
Essay	50%
Essay	50%

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External