Course Details in 2025/26 Session

Module Title	LH Reason and Belief
School	Phil, Theology and Religion
Department	Philosophy
Module Code	09 31431
Module Lead	Scott Sturgeon
Level	Honours Level
Credits	20
Semester	Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions	None
Contact Hours	Lecture-20 hours Seminar-8 hours Guided independent study-172 hours Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description	We make sense of each other and ourselves by reflecting on what we believe. Some of these beliefs play a major role in shaping our lives. This module will attend to contemporary issues in philosophy of mind and epistemology concerning belief. The core questions to be addressed include, but are not limited to, the following: What is a belief? How are beliefs justified, and what is their relation to knowledge? Are true beliefs correct beliefs? Are we under any obligation (moral, epistemic, prudential) to believe truly? Each year the module will also cover a number of wider issues of belief. In epistemology, the questions that can be covered concern the role of contextual considerations in dealing with scepticism, social epistemology, virtue epistemology, and a priori knowledge. In philosophy of mind, the questions covered can include questions such as whether belief can be willed, whether beliefs guide our actions, whether cases of self-deception and delusion involve beliefs at all, and whether subjects with such beliefs are especially irrational. The precise focus of the module, and which of the previous questions are covered, can depend each year on the expertise and the interests of the convenor.
Learning Outcomes	By the end of the module students should be able to: Demonstrate their knowledge and critical understanding of a range of fundamental theories concerning the nature of belief Demonstrate their knowledge and critical understanding of the main arguments for and against these theories Formulate and defend their own philosophical views on belief Communicate explanation and analysis of the subject clearly and effectively, orally and in writing.
Assessment	31431-03 : 2000 word Essay 1 : Coursework (50%) 31431-04 : 2000 word Essay 2 : Coursework (50%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions	Assessments: Two 2000 word essays Reassessment: As per assessment
Other
Reading List