Bachelor
2025/2026
Philosophy
Type:
Compulsory course (Political Science and World Politics)
Delivered by:
Department of Philosophy
When:
1 year, 3, 4 module
Online hours:
30
Open to:
students of all HSE University campuses
Instructors:
Daniel Tiskin
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Contact hours:
30
Course Syllabus
Abstract
As a special mode of human rationality and creativity, philosophy has considerable intellectual value of its own but also underlies many accomplishments in science, art, religion and social organisation. The course introduces traditional philosophical topics such as logic, metaphysics, epistemology, language, right and wrong, justice and the vision for a good future for the humanity. The discussion centers on questions rather than on prominent figures and eras in the history of philosophy and aims to give a lucid and vivid introduction to complicated topics.
Learning Objectives
- Upon the completion of the course, the student is supposed to be able to explain and apply the basic tools of deductive and inductive reasoning, point out and avoid fallacies
- Upon the completion of the course, the student is supposed to be able to conceptualize the nature of philosophical enquiry as opposed to science, art, and religion
- Upon the completion of the course, the student is supposed to be able to point out some of the main domains and topics in philosophy and explain key positions on them
- Upon the completion of the course, the student is supposed to be able to evaluate the merits and demerits of philosophical viewpoints and apply philosophical theories to test cases
Expected Learning Outcomes
- being able to explain and apply the basic tools of deductive and inductive reasoning, point out and avoid fallacies
- being able to rationally debate the topics in theoretical philosophy and to apply thought experiments to the evaluation of philosophical theories
- being able to evaluate actions from the viewpoint of main approaches to the problem of right and wrong
- being able to point out the philosophical underpinnings of social and political organisation
- evaluate the merits and demerits of philosophical viewpoints and apply philosophical theories to test cases
Course Contents
- Introduction
- Metaphysics and epistemology
- Value theory: ethics
- Value theory: political philosophy
- Projects
Assessment Elements
- ClassworkEvery student’s work in class is evaluated every week depending on their ability to answer and pose questions and participate in rational discussion
- ProjectsStudents prepare and present their philosophical analyses of a work of art, science or mass media
- Written ExamA written exam where the student is required to answer a question or analyse a case study in sufficient detail
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Pritchard, D. (2016). What Is This Thing Called Philosophy? London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1222339
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- Chrisman, M., & Pritchard, D. (2017). Philosophy for Everyone (Vol. Second edition). New York: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1286862