Evidence and Argument 1
| Module title | Evidence and Argument 1 |
|---|---|
| Module code | PHL1005A |
| Academic year | 2024/5 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Edward Skidelsky (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 140 |
|---|
Module description
Philosophers try to think rationally about the most general and abstract questions; for this reason, they spend a lot of time constructing and criticising arguments. This module introduces you to the basic principles of argumentative reasoning; you will investigate what makes a good or a bad argument, and how to distinguish one from the other. This is an essential skill not only in science and philosophy, but also in politics and everyday life.
Consisting of a mixture of theory and practical exercises, this module will teach you the tools and skills necessary for analysing, evaluating and constructing arguments. You will learn to analyse texts taken from philosophy and the social sciences, assess the validity of arguments, identify the most common forms of pseudo-reasoning and evaluate the use of evidence in empirical science.
This module is suitable for all students in philosophy and other social science disciplines. No prior knowledge is required.
Module aims - intentions of the module
Philosophers try to think rationally about the most general and abstract questions; for this reason, they spend a lot of time constructing and criticising arguments. In this course, you will investigate what makes a good or a bad argument, and how to distinguish one from the other. This is a skill essential not only in science and philosophy, but also in politics and everyday life.
This module will teach you the tools and skills necessary for analysing, evaluating and constructing arguments. It consists of a mixture of theory and practical exercises. We will examine the general principles of reasoning, and then apply them to particular arguments from philosophical and other texts.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. demonstrate knowledge of some basic principles of formal and inductive reasoning, essay writing and rhetoric;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 2. develop the ability to analyse arguments, to apply simple rules of inference, to criticise brief texts, and to write well-argued essays;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. develop the ability to argue clearly and effectively in speech and writing, to use the library and internet resources, and to evaluate different sources of evidence;
Syllabus plan
Essay writing technique; identifying and reconstructing arguments; arguments vs. explanations; deductive reasoning; inductive reasoning; argumentative strategies and fallacies.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 27.5 | 122.5 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 16.5 | 11 x 1.5 hour lectures |
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity | 11 | 1 hour tutorial every week. A great part of the course will be devoted to practical exercises in the construction, analysis and evaluation of arguments. This format allows for a good deal of discussion between students and lecturer, both in lectures and tutorials. |
| Guided Independent study | 22.5 | Short exercises in logic and critical thinking; readings. The exercises do not come with a minimum word count, but they should take no more than a couple of hours every two weeks. |
| Guided Independent study | 100 | Private study |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short exercises in logic and critical thinking; readings. | The exercises do not come with a minimum word count, but they should take no more than a couple of hours every two weeks. | 1-3 | Written and verbal |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 100 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | 100 | 1 hour 45 minutes | 1-3 | Written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Examination | Examination (1 hour 45 minutes) | 1-3 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
A. Martinich, Philosophical Writing, Blackwell, 1997.
I. Hacking, An Introduction to Probability and Inductive Logic, CUP, 2
B.Moore and R. Parker, Critical Thinking, 6th edition, London, Mayfield Publishing Co., 1997.
T. Bowell and G. Kemp, Critical Thinking, London, Routledge 2002.
M.Salmon, Introduction to Logic and Critical Thinking, London, Wadsworth, 2002.
M. Scriven, Reasoning, New York, McGraw-Hill, 1976.
Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources
ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 7.5 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 4 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 01/10/2006 |
| Last revision date | 29/04/2022 |
