This course is based on some key philosophical texts of the Enlightenment era, such as Locke's Essay concerning Human Understanding and Berkeley's Principles of Human Knowledge.

2 lectures per week for 9 weeks, plus 4 tutorials. The course may not run every year. Options running this year are available on MyCampus.

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The standard assessments for this course are:

■ 2 x Essay (2500 words) - 100%

If required, for instance where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, the following alternatives are available:

■ There is no alternative to the essays, but flexible deadlines can be offered as reasonable adjustments (students should follow the usual process for extensions)

Further reasonable adjustments may be provided where necessary. Students are encouraged to consult with the course convenor.

This course aims to:

■ Introduce students to some key philosophical texts of the Enlightenment Era, such as  John Locke, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, George Berkeley, Principles of Human Knowledge

■ Explore those texts by critical study

■ Encourage students to engage themselves with the texts and appreciate their relevance to contemporary debate

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

■ Identify and explain the views of the authors covered on the following topics: Substance; Freedom; Causation; Space, Time and Motion; Appearance and Reality; the Self; The nature and limits of knowledge; The nature of reality and relation of the mind to the external world.

■ Critically assess in writing the views of the authors on these topics using appropriate and subject specialism terminology.

■ Compare and contrast the respective views of the authors with an awareness of both content and context.

Assessment for this course is at Masters Level.