58吃瓜

PY4615 Metaphysics

Academic year

2026 to 2027 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be confirmed.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof F Berto

Prof F Berto
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Prof Franz Berto Dr Alessandro Rossi

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

The module will introduce students to contemporary metaphysics and its methodologies. The most important work carried out in metaphysics today is in metaontology. The two key questions of metaontology are: (a) 鈥榃hat do we mean when we ask 鈥淲hat is there?鈥濃��, and (b) 鈥楬ow should we do ontology?鈥�. Accordingly, metaontology is about (a) the meaning of being and (b) the methodology of ontology鈥攕hould ontology be done via thought experiments? By conceptual analysis? By looking at our best natural science? By systematizing our intuitions? In examining these questions, this module will present and discuss the main methodologies in contemporary metaphysics, such as mainstream Quinean metaontology; ontological pluralism; neo-Fregeanism; neo-Carnapianism and deflationism; fictionalism; Meinongianism; grounding theory; naturalized metaphysics.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS PY1012

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 20%, Examination = 80%

Re-assessment

Examination = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1x lecture (2 hours), 1x seminar (1 hour)

Scheduled learning hours

33

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

259

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Orient themselves in state-of-the-art contemporary ontology.
  • Understand the main methodologies of contemporary ontological research.
  • Engage critically with the literature in ontology and metaphysics.
  • Write clearly and carefully in theoretical philosophy.
  • Produce papers of good quality in ontology and metaphysics.