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PHL314Arts3 Unitsintermediate

Advance Metaphysics

This course, Advanced Metaphysics, is a three-credit unit course designed to provide students with a broad understanding of metaphysics as a major branch of philosophy. It explores systems of metaphysics, concepts of nature, reality, and thought, and delves into problems of Being, God, and human nature. The course also examines theories of time, space, and consciousness, and their perception across various cosmologies, aiming to stimulate metaphysical reflection and critical thinking among students.

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96h
Study Time
13
Weeks
7h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
MetaphysicsBeingRealityTimeSpace

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
📖
Learning Type
Theoretical Focus

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Nature of Metaphysics

2

Systems of Metaphysics

3

Problems of Being

4

Freewill and Determinism

5

Theories of Time and Space

6

Concept of Authenticity

Total Topics6 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (3 methods)

Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Tutor-Marked Assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Final Examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Philosopher

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Researcher

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Analyst

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Theologian

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Educator

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Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

AcademiaResearch InstitutionsTheologyConsultingPublic Policy

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Module 1: Metaphysics: Nature, Branches and Other Disciplines

2h

Unit 1: Meaning, Conceptual and Theoretical Definition, Branches and Nature

2 study hours
  • •Define metaphysics conceptually and theoretically.
  • •Distinguish metaphysics from occultism.
  • •Identify the branches of metaphysics and their subject matter.
Week
2

Module 1: Metaphysics: Nature, Branches and Other Disciplines

2h

Unit 2: General Issues and Problems in Metaphysics

2 study hours
  • •Identify general issues and problems in metaphysics.
  • •Discuss the nature of existence, identity, and modality.
  • •Explore the relationship between reality and appearance.
Week
3

Module 1: Metaphysics: Nature, Branches and Other Disciplines

2h

Unit 3: The Futility of Eliminating Metaphysics

2 study hours
  • •Explain Comte's arguments against metaphysics.
  • •Discuss Hume's critique of metaphysics.
  • •Analyze the logical positivists' attempt to eliminate metaphysics.
Week
4

Module 1: Metaphysics: Nature, Branches and Other Disciplines

2h

Unit 4: The Relevance of Metaphysics

2 study hours
  • •Discuss the relevance of metaphysics to philosophy and other disciplines.
  • •Examine the role of metaphysics in addressing contemporary problems.
  • •Explain how metaphysics can inform our understanding of reality.
Week
5

Module 2: Systems of Metaphysics

2h

Unit 1: Realism

2 study hours
  • •Explain realism as a metaphysical system.
  • •Discuss the historical development of realism.
  • •Identify the various types of realism and their proponents.
Week
6

Module 2: Systems of Metaphysics

2h

Unit 2: Idealism

2 study hours
  • •Define the basic tenets of idealism.
  • •State the various strands of idealism.
  • •Trace the historical development of idealism.
Week
7

Module 2: Systems of Metaphysics

2h

Unit 3: Nominalism

2 study hours
  • •Understand the basic ideas at the center of nominalism.
  • •Appreciate the historical development of nominalism.
  • •Know the various forms that nominalism has taken.
Week
8

Module 2: Systems of Metaphysics

2h

Unit 4: The Problem of Universals

2 study hours
  • •Appreciate the historical development of universalism.
  • •Explain the various trends that are characteristic of systems in metaphysics.
  • •State how the problem of universals presents itself as a philosophical problem.
Week
9

Module 2: Systems of Metaphysics

2h

Unit 5: The Concepts of Nature, Reality and Thought

2 study hours
  • •Highlight what the various scholars through history think and say of nature, reality and the possibility of thought.
  • •Help students have an overview of the thinking of philosophical forebears on these themes.
  • •Stimulate in students the interest to rethink these ideas in their own ways at the same time paying critical attention to the history of these discourses.
Week
10

Module 3: Problems of Being

2h

Unit 1: Historical Exploration of the Question of Being

2 study hours
  • •Understand the centrality of being in metaphysics.
  • •Facilitate an understanding of what is being.
  • •Facilitate an understanding of what is non-being.
  • •Show the historical character of the discourse on being as a central theme in metaphysics.
Week
11

Module 3: Problems of Being

4h

Unit 2: The God Question in Metaphysics

2 study hours
  • •Understand the ubiquitous nature of the God question in metaphysics.
  • •Appreciate the strength and weaknesses of the various arguments for and against God's existence.
  • •Estimate the theoretical as well as practical implications of these discourses.

Unit 3: A Short Discourse on Human Nature

2 study hours
  • •Understand what human is.
  • •Appreciate the development of the concept in the history of metaphysics.
  • •Outline some defining features of human nature as peculiarly different from the other aspects of nature.
Week
12

Module 3: Problems of Being

4h

Unit 4: The Mind-Body Problem(Some Theories/Debates)

2 study hours
  • •Understand the main thrust of the problem of mind and body.
  • •Have an overview of the historical perspective to efforts in resolving it.
  • •Stimulate reflections on the various theories there are in an effort to resolve the problem of mind and body drawing on inspirations of earlier thinkers.

Unit 5: Notion of Substance (Monism vs Pluralism)

2 study hours
  • •Underpin what the notion of substance connotes.
  • •Know the history of the debates surrounding the notion of substance.
  • •Ascertain the various dimensions of what the notion means in metaphysics
Week
13

Module 5: Further Reflections on Some Other Problems of Metaphysics

4h

Unit 3: Determinism in African Metaphysics

2 study hours
  • •Understand how Africans conceive determinism.
  • •Understand how African metaphysics inform the idea of moral agency.
  • •Understand the African idea of predestination.

Unit 1: Participation

2 study hours
  • •Discuss what the term connotes/means
  • •Discuss the idea of participation in philosophy
  • •State the philosophical problems the characterization provokes.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create concept maps linking Modules 1-2 metaphysical systems and their core tenets.

2

Compare and contrast arguments for and against God's existence (Module 3) in essay format.

3

Develop timelines outlining key philosophers and their contributions to time and space theories (Unit 4, Module 5).

4

Practice applying the concept of authenticity (Unit 5, Module 5) to real-life scenarios.

5

Review all self-assessment exercises and end-of-module questions to reinforce understanding.

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