PY4645 Philosophy, Literature, and Fiction

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be confirmed.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr L A Jones

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr L Jones

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module invites students to philosophically consider the practice, aims, and values of the art form that is literature. We will be asking such questions as: how is literature defined? What is a literary work? Why, and how, should we read literature? Since many literary works are also fictional, we will also focus on the nature of fiction, asking how fiction is defined, and investigating aspects of our engagement with fictional worlds and characters. Students should note this is not a module in literary theory, nor in literary criticism; nor will we be concerned with philosophy as literature, nor philosophy in literature; rather, our approach will be that of philosophical aesthetics, carried out in relation to this singular art form that has textual works as its medium.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS PY1012

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

1 or more essays to a total of 7,000 words

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 2-hour lecture and 1 x 1-hour seminar.

Intended learning outcomes

  • critically discuss and evaluate a number of debates on topics in the philosophy of literature and philosophy of fiction
  • articulate their own views on these debated topics, drawing on appropriate sources, in written and oral format
  • employ philosophical argumentation in support of their views, in both written and verbal form
  • work effectively with peers in carrying out research and constructing a thesis presentation