The module will be taught by weekly whole-group one hour lectures, accompanied by weekly one hour seminars.

The decisive turn towards epistemology characteristic of modern philosophy from Descartes through Kant was decisively renewed at the outset of the 20th Century in the phenomenology of Husserl. In this module, we will briefly consider how Husserl's phenomenological methodology radicalises the tradition of epistemology, and assess the extent to which it enables a resolution of many of the abiding problems which have bedevilled modern philosophy. We shall then consider the critique of phenomenology launched by Husserl's successor, Heidegger, and examine the motivation for his insistence that philosophy must turn away from epistemology and towards ontology. We shall also consider Heidegger's claim that the history of philosophy has forgotten philosophy's most urgent question, namely the question of the meaning of being, and assess the means by which Heidegger seeks to reawaken this question. We shall conclude by considering Heidegger's response to Sartre's existentialism, contained in his 'Letter of Humanism'

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS length 1000 WORDS weighted at 30%. A COURSEWORK -ESSAY length 3000 WORDS weighted at 70%.

1. A basic understanding of phenomenology
2. An understanding of the methodology and basic concepts of Heidegger's phenomenological ontology
3. A basic understanding of Heidegger's critique of Sartre
4. An initial sense of what might be philosophically distinctive about existentialism.

Dreyfus, H., Being-in-the-World (MIT Press) 1991
Guignon, C. (ed.), Cambridge Companion to Heidegger (Routledge) 1996
Husserl, E. Shorter Logical Investigations (Routledge)
Heidegger, M. Being & Time (Blackwell)
Heidegger, M. The Concept of Time (1924 short essay; Blackwell)
Heidegger, M. Basic Writings (Routledge)
Heidegger, M. Basic Writings (Routledge)
Heidegger, M. Pathmarks (Blackwell)
Mulhall, S. Heidegger and Being and Time (Routledge) 1996
Sartre, J-P Existentialism and Humanism (Methuen)

The assessment is linked to the learning outcomes. The analysis exercise will test a student's grasp of Heidegger's philosophical apparatus and terminology. The essay provides opportunity to demonstrate a basic understanding of Heidegger's strategy and proposal to move from epistemology to ontology.

Library and IT facilities, seminar rooms for independent group work.