This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.

Undergraduate Handbook 2025-2026 (archived)

Module PHIL1101: Being Human: An Introduction to Post-Kantian Philosophy

Department: Philosophy

PHIL1101: Being Human: An Introduction to Post-Kantian Philosophy

Type	Level	Credits	Availability	Module Cap	Location
Tied	1	20	Available in 2025/2026	None.	Durham

Tied To

Pre-requisites

None

Corequisites

At least one other Year 1 module in Philosophy.

Excluded Combinations

None

Aims

To introduce post-Kantian (AKA Continental) philosophy by critically examining the ideas, arguments and methods of some prominent post-Kantian European philosophers.
To prepare students for a deeper consideration of issues in post-Kantian philosophy in second and third year modules.

Content

Topics will be drawn from a list including the following:
What is post-Kantian philosophy?
Work and Society
Gender, Sexuality and Race
Living and Theorising
Illness and Death
Reason and Faith
Ethics
Life and Affirmation
Love
Freedom
Each topic will be addressed by considering the views of some post-Kantian philosophers. For example, the topic of Work and Society would be addressed by considering the works of writers such as Marx, Arendt, Marcuse, Weil and Foucault.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge

Upon successful completion of the module, students will have a critical understanding of some of the main ideas, arguments and methods of post-Kantian philosophers.

Subject-specific Skills

Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Correctly use specialist vocabulary in discussions of post-Kantian philosophy
Interpret and criticise relevant texts in post-Kantian philosophy
Locate, understand, assess and utilise pertinent philosophical and historical sources on post-Kantian philosophy
Comprehend, analyse, evaluate and deploy arguments concerning post-Kantian philosophy
Using all of the above skills, write critical and well-informed essays on selected topics concerning post-Kantian philosophy

Key Skills

Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Express themselves clearly and succinctly in writing
Comprehend complex ideas, arguments and philosophical methods
Defend their opinions by reasoned argument
Seek out and identify appropriate sources of evidence and information
Tackle problems in a clear-sighted and logical fashion.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

This module will be taught in weekly one-hour lectures, with fortnightly discussion groups allowing the students to enter into deeper discussion and engagement with the concepts introduced in the lecture. Teaching and learning methods will support students in achieving the Subject-Specific Skills above. The Subject-Specific Skills will be formally assessed by the summative essays.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total Hours	Attendance Monitored
Lectures	22	1 per week	1 Hour	22
Discussion Classes	8	Fortnightly	1 Hour	8	Yes
Preparation and Reading				170
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component	Component Weighting	Element	Length/Duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Essay	50%	Essay	1500 words	100%
Examination	50%	Online Examination	2 Hours	100%

Formative Assessment

There will be the opportunity for formative feedback.

Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.