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Knowledge and Reality (PHIL20047)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
Overview
| Availability | Semester 2 - On Campus |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
This subject deals with central questions of epistemology and some aspects of the relation between epistemology and metaphysics. The primary focus will be epistemological questions about the nature of knowledge and justified belief. In addition, we will explore questions of a metaphysical nature that have a bearing on epistemological concerns, such as the nature of truth and reality, and the relationship between knowledge, truth and reality. We will also consider meta-epistemological questions about the nature of epistemological inquiry, including recent work in experimental philosophy on the role of intuition in epistemology, as well as naturalistic challenges to conceptual analysis.
Intended learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this subject should be able to:
- Explain and critically evaluate the main contemporary philosophical theories about the nature and characteristics of knowledge as well as scepticism about knowledge
- Interpret and analyse some of the key epistemological texts in which these theories are presented
- Engage with those texts and theories in a critical and reflective manner
- Articulate and critically evaluate the central themes of recent and contemporary epistemology
Generic skills
Students who successfully complete this subject should be able to:
- Think critically
- Analyse and evaluate concepts, theories, and arguments
- Develop and present arguments for or against a position
- Consider multiple viewpoints and arguments for those viewpoints
- Articulate ideas, concepts, and interpretations with clarity and coherence
- Engage in critical reflection, synthesis, and evaluation of research-based and scholarly literature.
Last updated: 8 March 2026