Doing philosophy
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| End-of-course assessment | Residential school |
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This course is available for study in the countries shown. Fees may vary by country.
Summary
Philosophy thrives on discussion and debate. This week-long residential school is an ideal opportunity to develop the skills of analysis, argument and writing needed to do philosophy. You choose one of three areas: knowledge and value; liberty and justice; or mind and action. Before the residential school begins, you work through introductory materials, and afterwards there is an assignment to complete. The school will be held in early August, at the University of Bath. You will be asked to choose your preferred subject area shortly after you register for the course.
Course content
Face-to-face discussion of philosophical issues is widely recognised as an integral part of the practice of philosophy. This residential-school course offers opportunities for you to:
- encounter some central issues in one of three areas of philosophy
- experience philosophy as an active enquiry, relevant to problems that arise in other academic disciplines and in everyday life
- engage personally in the discussion of philosophical issues
- learn the basic techniques of argument, analysis and writing that provide a firm foundation for further study of philosophy.
Optional workshops and lectures will offer you opportunities to encounter a wide range of philosophical issues.
You will be invited to choose one of three subject areas. The subject areas are selected to complement other courses offered by the University’s philosophy department, but you do not need to have done one of these courses in order to complete AXR271. See the Entry section for details.
Knowledge and value looks at some fundamental issues to do with knowledge, and particularly to do with our knowledge of moral values. Can we know that something is right or wrong? How can we decide between different views about the nature of moral value? This subject area is a good choice if you want a grounding in the practice of philosophy. You might consider this subject area if you are taking Philosophy and the human situation (A211).
Liberty and justice centres on key questions in political philosophy. Is democracy the only legitimate form of government? Can there be justice between nations? Do people living in distant countries have a duty to help each other? Do socialism and communitarianism offer viable alternatives to liberalism? You might consider this subject area if you have taken the discontinued course Reading political philosophy: Machiavelli to Mill (AA311), if you are interested in the Political Philosophy component on A211, or if you are studying Philosophy in conjunction with Social Sciences.
Mind and action explores a number of different questions about the relationship between thinking and doing. Can we really know what other people are thinking, or even whether they are having conscious thoughts at all, given that our only evidence seems to be the way in which their bodies are moving and the noises that they make? Do non-human animals have thoughts and beliefs? What is involved in acting rationally? Is it ever reasonable to act against one’s better judgement? You might consider this subject area if you are taking or are considering studying Thought and experience: themes in the philosophy of mind (AA308).
Unfortunately it is not possible to guarantee that all three subject areas will be available. That will depend on demand, and you will be asked to indicate, if your preferred subject area is unavailable, whether you are prepared to accept an alternative subject area, or whether you prefer to withdraw from the course.
The school will be held in early August, at the University of Bath. You will be asked to choose your preferred subject area shortly after you register for the course. See our Residential Schools website for more information.
Entry
The course will prepare you for work on philosophy courses at Level 3. It should appeal to you if you are taking, or have taken, Philosophy and the human situation (A211), and is also a good choice if you are taking, or have taken, a Level 3 course in philosophy and want to brush up your skills.
You are strongly advised not to attempt this course if you have not previously done some formal study of philosophy at A-level or undergraduate level (as part of The arts past and present (AA100) or the discontinued course A103, for example). If you have any doubt about the level of study please seek advice from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Whilst students are unable to take the course a second time for credit, they may choose to take the course again as a voluntary attendee if places are available. Voluntary attendees receive the same tuition at the school as regular attendees, but are not required to submit the ECA once the course is over. Every year about ten students choose to study another strand of the course without receiving credit. If you have already received credit for the course and are interested in attending the residential school again please contact us.
Qualifications
AXR271 is an optional course in our
- BA/BSc (Honours) European Studies (B10)
- BA (Honours) Humanities (B03)
- BA (Honours) Humanities (B03) (with Philosophy)
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is suitable for a BA. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
The course materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Large print versions of the course material can be provided on request. After you have registered you will receive detailed information about the residential school site and the facilities available to help with the academic programme. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklets Meeting Your Needs and Meeting your residential school needs, which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Printed preparatory reading material, one text book (appropriate to your subject area – see below), a residential school week of tutorials, workshops and lectures.
Which text book you will be sent depends on your choice of subject area:
Knowledge and value: Adam Morton (1996) Philosophy in Practice: An Introduction to the Main Questions, Blackwell.
Liberty and justice: Jonathan Wolff and Michael Rosen (eds) (1999) Political Thought, Oxford University Press.
Mind and action: George Graham (1998) Philosophy of Mind: An Introduction, second edition, Blackwell.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will give you advice and support throughout the school. You will have tuition from specialist tutors for all the school activities.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
The assignment consists of an analysis exercise and a short essay. To pass the course, you must achieve a pass mark for this assignment and participate satisfactorily in the activities at the residential school. This will include presenting the results of a group discussion to your tutorial group.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in May 2009. We expect it to be available at the same time once a year.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Arts and Humanities.
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Student Reviews
I loved summer school, what an experience! This is not to be missed, a week away, in the company of ...
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I found AXR271 to be a wonderful experience, both academically and personally. All the people involved, especially the tutors and ...
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