PY2012 Meaning and Knowing

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

20

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 8

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.

Planned timetable

2.00pm - 3.00 pm Mon, Tue, Thu

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

Module Staff

Team taught

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 aims to provide a comprehensive foundation in both epistemology (the theory of knowledge) and the philosophy of language. It will typically cover the following central questions in epistemology: What is knowledge? What is evidence? Can we trust the evidence of the senses? Can we defeat the sceptic about knowledge? What are the limits of knowledge? What is the nature of belief? When is a belief a good belief? What is the nature of perception? What is the difference between mathematical knowledge and empirical knowledge? Questions covered on the philosophy of language component may include: What is communication? What is linguistic meaning? What is the difference between saying and implying? What is it for an expression to be context-sensitive? What is the nature of metaphor? Topics which span both components of the module include: internalism and externalism.

Assessment pattern

100% Coursework

Re-assessment

100% Coursework: 5000 word 7-day Take-Home Assignment

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

3 lectures and 1 tutorial.

Scheduled learning hours

43

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

157

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Critically evaluate the main theories in contemporary epistemology
  • Assess competing theories in social epistemology
  • Critically evaluate classic texts in philosophy of language
  • Show familiarity with issues in contemporary semantics, pragmatics, and theories of conditionals