The purpose of the undergraduate Philosophy course in Galway is to introduce students to the rich variety of philosophical thinking. There are courses on the history of philosophy and in the different areas of philosophical thought to show how questions concerning the environment, justice and equality, what counts as true and good, aspirations to freedom and happiness, how to think well and discuss reasonably with one another, require clear and rigorous philosophical reflection. All subjects within the Arts degree are related to philosophy, so doing Philosophy as an Undergraduate subject is not only enriching in itself, but is of great benefit in studying any other subject within an Arts degree.

First Year

Welcome to Philosophy

Welcome to all our incoming Philosophy students! We are delighted you have chosen to study Philosophy and look forward to introducing you to the fascinating world of philosophical thought. In first year, you will be brought on a whistle stop tour of the main figures in the history of Philosophy exploring those ideas which formed the world as we know it. Your skills in reasoning and articulating ideas will be stimulated and developed. Practical issues of morality will be discussed in all their complexity and the therapeutic capacity of philosophy as well as its potential for understanding such ubiquitous themes as love and the nature of the self will be discussedWhile classes can be big, you will be placed in tutorial groups of 15 students, which meet weekly to discuss the lecture topics.

Please make sure you are familiar with our First-Year Handbook for Philosophy Students 25/26

Queries about learning answered here (English and Irish versions).

Student queries - recommended stages about learning answered here (English and Irish versions)

C‌ontact:

Head of Year:  Dr. Nick Tosh nick.tosh@universityofgalway.ie

First Year Modules 2025/2026

  • Introduction to the History of Philosophy
  • Critical Thinking & Logic
  • Philosophical Questions & Issues
  • Introduction to Practical Ethics 

Timetables:

1st Arts Semester One 2025/26

Lectures:

Students must attend all the lectures for all of their modules and should, where advised by their lecturer, complete the reading in advance. Students are responsible for taking their own notes during lectures and should arrive on time for their classes

Time   Title Code Lecturer Venue

Monday

5-6

Introduction to the History of Philosophy PI107 Dr. O. Richardson

Anderson Theatre,

AC002

Tuesday

4-5

Introduction to the History of Philosophy PI107 Dr. O. Richardson

O'Flaherty Theatre,

AC001

         

Wednesday

2-3

Philosophical Questions & Issues  PI120 Dr. N. Ward

Kirwan Theatre,

SC001

         

Friday

2-3

Critical Thinking & Logic  PISK1102

Dr. N. Tosh 

 

CSB-1006


Tutorials:

In addition, students will be part of two different tutorial groups.
In semester one, they will have one tutorial in Introduction to the History of Philosophy module (PI107) . This tutorial will take place weekly. They will also be another tutorial for Critical Thinking & Logic (PISK1102). This will take place every two weeks (fortnightly). The tutorials will begin on week two of term.
In semester two, they will have one tutorial in Introduction to Practical Ethics (PI108). This tutorial will take place weekly. They will also be another tutorial for Critical Thinking & Logic (PISK1102). This will take place every two weeks (fortnightly). The tutorials will begin on week two of term.
Sign-up for tutorial groups will be on Canvas. Students should sign-up at the start of each semester, no later than the end of week one.
 
Overall workload BA Hons Students: 
  • 4 weekly lectures, 1.5 tutorials (20 ECTS, All listed modules and associated tutorials) 
Overall workload BA CONNECT Students: 
  • 3 weekly lectures, 1.5 tutorials (15 ECTS, PI107, PI108 and PISK1102 and associated tutorials) 
** If you are unsure which degree programme you are on, log into your registration page to check*

1st Arts Semester Two 2025/26

Time

Title

Code

Venue

Lecturer

Monday 5-6

Introduction to Practical Ethics

PI108

AC002 Anderson Theatre 

Dr. R. Hull

Tuesday 4-5 

 Introduction to Practical Ethics

 PI108

CSB-1006 

Dr. R. Hull 

         

Wed 2-3

Philosophical Questions & Issues

PI120

AUC G002 Theatre,

Aras Ui Chathail 

 

Prof. F. Ó Murchadha 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday 2-3

Critical Thinking & Logic

PISK1102

   AC002 Anderson Lecture Theatre

Dr. N. Tosh

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dates of Semesters 

2025/26 First Semester
Orientation               

Wednesday, 10th and Thursday, 11th September (online subject talks @ 1pm)

On campus- Friday, 12th September (more details to follow)

Teaching begins Monday, 15th September 2025
Teaching ends Friday, 28th November 2025
Study week    Monday, 1st - Friday 5th December 2025
Examinations begin Monday, 8th December 2025
Examinations end Friday, 19th December 2025 (10 days of exams)
2025/26 Second Semester
Teaching begins Monday, 12th January, 2026
Teaching ends Thursday, 2nd April, 2026
Easter Holidays Good Friday, 3rd April - Monday, 6th April 2026
Reading Week Monday, 13th April - Friday, 17th April 2026
Examinations begin Monday, 21st April, 2026
Examinations end Friday, 8th May, 2026 (13 days of exams)
 Autumn Repeat exams Tuesday, 4th August - Friday, 14th August 2026
 

Canvas

Familiarity with Canvas is essential. Course pages on Canvas will contain all communications from lecturers about their course, as well as notes, PowerPoint slides and further reading. In addition, attendance is monitored via Canvas, assignments are submitted there and sign-up for tutorials will take place on this platform. So, learning how to use Canvas as a new student will be vital to our successful delivery of a meaningful interactive learning experience.  

In your canvas account, you will be able to manage how often you receive email notifications from your modules. It is your responsibility to manage the information that you receive from the Learning Management system via the settings in your profile.  

Turning off all notifications is not advised as you may miss important announcements or messages from your module instructor. 

Please click on the link below to become more familiar with our Virtual Learning Environment: 

https://www.universityofgalway.ie/information-solutions-services/services-for-students/canvas/students/   

Compulsory/ Optional Courses:

All courses are compulsory for B.A. students (Joint Honours).     B.A. Connect students do not have to take PI120 Philosophical Questions and Issues.

Schedule of Courses:

Compulsory

Code

Course

Semester

ECTS

Examination

PI107

Introduction to the History of Philosophy

1

5

Exam

PI108

Introduction to Practical Ethics

2

5

Essay and in-class assessments

PISK1102

Critical Thinking & Logic

1 & 2

5

Continuous Assessment and Written Exam

PI120

Philosophical Questions and Issues

1 & 2

5

Essay and Written Exam

 Individual Course Details:

Introduction to History of Philosophy:

Code

Semester

Contact hours / weekly

ECTS

PI107

1

2 (Tutorials not included)

5

Lecturer:  Dr. O. Richardson

Course description:

The course will introduce students to key thinkers and ideas in the history of western philosophy. Since ancient philosophy is so central to this history, the first half of the course is devoted to some of its most important achievements in the work of the Pre-Socratics, Plato, and Aristotle. Attention is then turned to aspects of medieval philosophy, and the great rationalist and empiricist traditions (represented by Descartes, Leibniz, Locke and Hume, respectively) finishing with Nietzsche. 

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination:  Examination

Core texts:   

Copleston, History of Philosophy, Image Publishing
Guthrie, W. K. C., The Greek Philosophers from Thales to Aristotle, Methuen
Johnston, D., A Brief History of Philosophy, Continuum
Plato, Republic, Penguin
Russell, B., History of Western Philosophy, Routledge
Solomon, R. and Higgins, K., A Short History of Philosophy, Oxford
Stumpf, S. E., and Fieser, J., Socrates to Sartre and Beyond, McGraw Hill

 

Introduction to Practical Ethics:

Code

Semester

Contact hours / weekly

ECTS

PI108

2

2 (Tutorials not included)

5

Lecturer: Dr. R. Hull

Course description: This course (Practical Ethics) provides a rigorous examination of a wide range of contemporary ethical issues. Students will learn about the ethical theories that tend to inform our practical decision making. Those theories will then be applied to a number of contemporary issues. These may include genetic selection, pre-natal testing, assisted death, social inequality and world poverty. Readings will be recommended for each topic via Blackboard.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination: Overall assessment is by written essay at the end of the second semester (50%) and in-class examination(s) throughout the second semester (50%).  

Core texts:

Mizzoni, J. Ethics: the basics, Blackwell 2010.

La Follette, H, ed., Ethics in Practice: An Anthology, Wiley-Blackwell, 2006.

Singer, P. Practical Ethics, Cambridge University Press, 2011.  

Wolff, J. An introduction to moral philosophy, Norton, 2018.

 

Critical Thinking & Logic:

Code

Semester

Contact hours / weekly

ECTS

PISK1102

1 & 2

2 (Tutorials not included)

5

Lecturer:  Dr. N. Tosh

Course description: Successful humanities students are sophisticated consumers and producers of arguments. In this key skills module students will learn to distinguish arguments from other forms of persuasion; to map the argumentative structure of a complex text; to spot fallacious patterns of reasoning; and to apply some of the tools of elementary formal logic.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination:  Overall assessment is by continuous assessment in the first semester and a written examination in the second semester.

Core texts:         

The course is self-contained and there is no set text. However, for extension reading students may wish to consult the following:

Fisher, A. (2011). Critical Thinking: An Introduction.
Bowell, T. and Kemp, G. (2010). Critical Thinking: A Concise Guide.

 
Philosophical Questions & Issues:

Code

Semester

Contact hours / weekly

ECTS

PI120

1 & 2

2 (Tutorials not included)

5

Lecturers:    Dr. N Ward (Semester One)
                     Prof. F. Ó Murchadha (Semester Two)         

Course description: This course aims to introduce students to a diversity of philosophical approaches to the problem of meaning and value. Issues covered will include some of the following: justice, poverty, love, death, totalitarianism, genetics and human life, human rights, free will, violence and the meaning of life.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials. It is team taught by different lecturers each year. More specific readings will be advised at the beginning of each semester.

Methods of assessment and examination:  Overall assessment is by an essay at the end of the first semester and a written examination at the end of the second semester. Mid-term assignment may be required.

Selected texts: 

Law, S., The Philosophy Gym: 25 Short Adventures in Thinking
Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics, Various editions
Bretall, R. (ed.), A Kierkegaard Anthology
Plato, Symposium, various editions 
Barry, B., Democracy, power and justice
Wolff, J., An Introduction to Political Philosophy
John Locke, “Of Identity and Diversity” (II. Xxvii), in Essay on Human Understanding 

 

 

Second Year

Welcome to Second Year! 

We are delighted that you have decided to choose to continue with your studies of Philosophy and are very much looking forward to working with you in the coming year. 

There are two compulsory modules in second year on the History of Modern Philosophy beginning with the Rationalists in Semester 1 and then moving on the Empiricists and Kant in Semester 2. These modules bring you through a key epoch in philosophy (from the end of the Sixteenth to the beginning of the Nineteenth Centuries). The other modules are all optional. In making your choice of module, we urge you to consult the page of Module Pathways and encourage you to speak to the Head of Year as you make your decision.   

Entry requirements: A pass in First Arts Philosophy or its equivalent in the case of exchange and visiting students‌.

‌Please make sure that you are familiar with our 2nd year Arts Philosophy Handbook 25/26

Answers to queries re. online learning available here

Queries about learning answered here.

QA616 University of Galway Student Code of Conduct policy.

Head of Second Year:   
Dr. Lucy Elvis lucy.elvis@universityofgalway.ie

Student Representatives for Second Year:   
TBA‌

Second Year Modules 2025/26

Semester 1:

  • PI2111 Themes in the History of Modern Philosophy: Rationalism  (compulsory)

plus two of the following optional modules:

  • PI210 Moral and Political Philosophy 
  • PI240 Bioethics
  • PI246 American Pragmatism
  • PI247 Nietzsche and Philosophy 
  • PI248 Phenomenology
  • PI2113 Topics in Ancient Philosophy

 

Semester 2: three of the following optional modules:

  • PI2112 Themes in the History of Modern Philosophy: Empiricism and Beyond (compulsory)

    plus two of the following optional modules:

  • PI207 Philosophy of Art
  • PI241 History of Irish Thought
  • PI2102 Formal Logic 
  • PI2105 Philosophical Inquiry through P4C 

Timetables

Compulsory/Optional Courses:

PI2111 and PI2112 are compulsory; all other second-year modules are optional. You should take three modules each semester. There may be occasional conflicts with other subjects. Before you register, make sure there are no conflicts with modules that you will be taking in your other subject. 

Teaching timetable

2nd Arts Semester One 2025/26

Code Title Lecturer Lecture
PI2111 Themes in the History of Modern Philosophy: Rationalism  Prof. Felix Ó Murchadha 

Wednesday 9-10, CSB-G005
Thursday, 5-6, AC213

PI210 Moral and Political Philosophy Dr. Orla Richardson Wednesday, 4-6, Tyndall Theatre (SC005)

PI240   Bioethics Dr. Nora Ward Tuesday, 10-11, CSB-1005                 
Wednesday, 1-2, Thomas Dillon Theatre                                
PI246 American Pragmatism Dr. Tsarina Doyle Mondays, 9-11, CSB -1008
PI247 Nietzsche and Philosophy  Dr. Tsarina Doyle Mondays, 4-6, CA116a
PI248   Phenomenology   Prof. Felix Ó Murchadha

Thurs 9-11, CSB-1009

PI2113 Topics in Ancient Philosophy TBC

Tuesday, 11-12, CSB-1009
Thursday, 4-5, CSB-1008

 

2nd Arts Semester Two 2025/26

Code Title Lecturer Lecture
PI2112 Themes in the History of Modern Philosophy: Empiricism and Beyond  Dr. Tsarina Doyle

Mondays 9-10, CSB-1009

Wednesdays 9-10, CSB-G005 

 PI207  Philosophy of Art Dr. Lucy Elvis

Tuesdays 10-11 at AMB 1023 Mairtin O Tnuthail Theatre 
Thursdays 11-12 at AMB G009 

 PI241  History of Irish Thought Dr. John O'Reilly Mondays, 10-11, CSB-1009
Mondays, 11-12, CSB-1008
 PI2102  Formal Logic Dr. Nick Tosh

Monday 6-7, AC214
Friday 1-2, CSB-1003

 PI2105  Philosophical Inquiry through P4C Dr. Lucy Elvis   Wednesdays, 3-5, AMB-G010 (TBC)

 

Individual Course Details:

Themes in the History of Modern Philosophy: Rationalism (COMPULSORY MODULE)

Code

Semester

ECTS

PI2111

      1

     5

 Lecturer: Prof. Felix Ó Murchadha 

Course description:  This course discusses the rationalist philosophy of René Descartes, Baruch Spinoza and Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz.  These philosophers each attempted to give a solid grounding to science, ethics and theology through a thoroughgoing rationalist metaphysics. In examining these accounts we will pay special attention to the historical context of their respective systematic accounts of knowledge and reality.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by compulsory tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination: Overall assessment is by written exam, plus continuous assessment based on participation in Lectures and in small group exercises.

Core Texts:

Selected passages from the following text will be considered: 

Roger Ariew & Eric Watkins (eds) Modern Philosophy: An Anthology of Primary Sources (Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Co., 1998). 

Supplementary Reading: Felix Ó Murchadha: The Formation of the Modern Self: Reason, Happiness and the Passions (London: Bloomsbury, 2022)

Lecturers: Dr Tsarina Doyle 

Course description:  This course examines the empirical philosophy of John Locke, George Berkeley, and David Hume, along with Immanuel Kant’s response to empiricism. Thematically, the course focuses on the relation between empirical science and metaphysics. It does so by investigating the influence of the experimental methodology of the natural sciences on the thinking of the four philosophers and assesses its implications for their accounts of the human mind and the possibility of knowledge.

Prerequisites: None 

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by compulsory tutorials. 

Methods of assessment and examination: Overall assessment is by written exam, plus continuous assessment based on participation in Lectures and in small group exercises. 

Recommended Book Resources: 
John Locke 1996, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, Hackett Publishing Company Incorporated [ISBN: 087220216X]
David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding [ISBN: 1546545263] George Berkeley 1988, Principles of Human Knowledge and Three Dialogues Between Hylas and Philonous, Penguin UK [ISBN: 9780140432930]
Immanuel Kant 1998, Critique of Pure Reason, Cambridge University Press [ISBN: 0521657296]

 

Moral and Political Philosophy

Code

Semester

ECTS

PI210

1

5

Lecturer: Dr Orla Richardson

Course description: This module is an introduction to several important topics and questions in political and moral philosophy, such as: What, if anything, legitimises governmental authority and the exercise of political power? What is justice? What is the nature of citizenship? Is a free market a necessary component of a free society? What principles ground our fundamental notions of property rights, freedom, and equality? To explore these questions, we will begin by reading extracts from the Ancients, primarily Plato and Aristotle. We will then examine the ideas of Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, and Jean Jacques Rousseau. Finally, we will review texts by nineteenth century authors, like J.S. Mill and Karl Marx. Overall, the aim of this course is to trace the ideas that have shaped our contemporary political systems and to equip us to think critically about what conditions make ‘the good society’ possible. 

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by discussion sessions utilising a community-of-inquiry approach to philosophical reflection. 

Methods of assessment and evaluation

  1. Continuous assessment: four Discussion Questions submitted over the course of the semester. Each worth 5% of your final grade. 
  2. Final paper: submitted at the end of the semester. Worth 80% of your final grade. 

Core Texts:
Steven M. Cahn, ed., Classics of Political and Moral Philosophy (Oxford University Press, 2011) 

 

Topics in Ancient Philosophy 

Code 

Semester 

ECTS 

PI2113 

 Lecturers: TBC

Course description: This module focusses on a close reading of Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics discussing the issues of the role of philosophical reflection with respect to human practice, the role of the 'good life' in understanding ethics, the place of virtue with respect to moral 'ought', the role of pleasure and self-love with respect to ethics, as well as questions of justice, happiness and moral motivation. The course will comprise of a close reading of the text and develop an account of the refractions of Aristotle’s text in the Philosophical Hermeneutics of Hans Georg-Gadamer, Nussbaum’s Aristotelian Social Democracy, and the phronetic Social Science proposed by McIntyre in After Virtue and elsewhere. 

Prerequisites: None 

Teaching and learning methods:   The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials. 

Methods of assessment and evaluation:   Students will be assessed via continuous reflection, analysis and writing activities in class (30%) oral assessment (30%) and a final essay (40%) This means that attendance in class is key to success in this module as it will help you to a) build your grade and b) practice the skills that allow you to bring the content beyond the classroom. 

Core Texts:

Aristotle, Nicomachean ethics. T.Irwin (trans.) Hackett Publishing, London, 2019. 

Supplementary reading: 
Amélie Oksenberg Rorty (ed.) Essays on Aristotle's Ethics. University of California Press, 1980. 

De Caro, Mario, and Maria Silvia Vaccarezza, eds. Practical wisdom: philosophical and psychological perspectives. Routledge, 2021. 

Hughes, Gerard J. The Routledge Guidebook to Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics. Routledge, 2013. 

 

Bioethics

Code

Semester

ECTS

PI240

1

5

Lecturer: Dr. Nora Ward

Course description: This seminar is concerned with contemporary issues in Bioethics. It will introduce a variety of normative ethical theories to provide a foundation for the critical analysis of a range of issues arising from the biological and medical sciences. These are likely to include abortion, euthanasia/physician assisted suicide, disability, genetic modification and resource allocation. It is intended that students will gain knowledge of moral philosophy that equips them to evaluate some of the most pressing dilemmas facing biomedical practice.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination: Overall assessment is by Continuous Assessment and group work (30%) and essay (70%).

Core Texts:
Beauchamp, T., & Childress, J., Principles of Biomedical Ethics, OUP, 1994.
Singer, P. (Ed), A Companion to Ethics, Blackwell, 1993.

 

American Pragmatism 

Code 

Semester 

ECTS 

PI246 

1 

5 

 Lecturer: Dr. Tsarina Doyle 

 
Course Description: This course shall examine some of the central themes at the heart of American pragmatism.  We shall begin by addressing the historical and scientific background informing the emergence of the pragmatist movement in nineteenth-century America.  Taking the pragmatist denial of absolute beliefs as our guiding theme, the course shall explore the pragmatist writings of William James in the nineteenth century and Richard Rorty in the twentieth century.  In particular, we shall focus on James’s rejection of philosophical oppositions.  Finally, we shall turn to the neo-pragmatism of Rorty’s Philosophy and the Mirror of Nature paying particular attention to both his critique of the representational view of the mind and his recommendation of social pragmatism. 

Prerequisites: None 

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials. 

Methods of assessment and examination: Assessment is based on a written essay at the end of the semester with continuous assessment added to the evaluation. 

Core texts: A list of readings will be provided at the beginning of the semester. 

 

Nietzsche and Philosophy 

Code 

Semester 

ECTS 

PI247 

1 

5 

Lecturer: Dr Tsarina Doyle 

Course description: This course shall introduce students to some of the central themes informing the philosophical writings of Friedrich Nietzsche. Comprising a close reading of his writings, it offers students an opportunity to explore such concepts as perspectivism, the will to power, nihilism, the death of God, master and slave morality, genealogy, the Ubermensch and eternal recurrence. Nietzsche’s response to traditional philosophical problems of truth and knowledge and his use of the language of falsification and illusion shall also be considered. All students shall be expected to engage in class discussions. 

Prerequisites: None 

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials. 

Methods of assessment and examination: Overall assessment is by written essay. 

Core Texts: 
Ansell Pearson, Keith and Large, Duncan (eds) 2006, The Nietzsche Reader, Blackwell. 
Clarke, Maudemarie 1990, Nietzsche on Truth and Philosophy, Cambridge University Press. 
Ansell Pearson, Keith, (ed.) 2006, A companion to Nietzsche, Blackwell. 
May, Simon 1999, Nietzsche's Ethics and his War on 'Morality', Clarendon Press. 
Schacht, Richard 1983, Nietzsche, Routledge and Kegan Paul. 
Solomon, Robert C., and Higgins, Kathleen M. 1988, Reading Nietzsche, Oxford University Press. 

 

Phenomenology 

Code 

Semester 

ECTS 

PI248 

 Lecturer: Prof. Felix Ó Murchadha 

Course description: This course will familiarize students with the methods and themes Phenomenology focusing on the work of Husserl and Heidegger. The course will concentrate especially on such themes as consciousness, intentionality, reduction, truth, emotion embodiment, and the other.  

Prerequisites: None 

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials. 

Methods of assessment and examination: Continuous Assessment (35%) and a Final Assignment (Essay) (65%)  

Core texts:  

Heidegger, Martin: Being and Time (various translations)  

Husserl, Edmund: The Essential Husserl (Indiana University Press, 1999)  

Husserl, Edmund: The Idea of Phenomenology (Nijhoff 1973), available at https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.49015002052539;view=1up;seq=7  

Lévinas, Emmanuel: Totality and infinity: an essay on exteriority (Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press 2005)  

Merleau-Ponty, Maurice: Phenomenology of Perception (Routledge, 2005) 

 

Philosophy of Art

Code

Semester

ECTS

PI207

2

5

 Lecturer: Dr. Lucy Elvis

Course description: This module is an introduction to philosophical approaches to various artforms across Western history of ideas. It gives students the skills to rigorously understand relevant key texts as well as critically discuss them in relation to a range of art practices and artworks. Whether pre-modern, modern, or contemporary, the philosophical approaches considered cover a variety of methods
including from the analytic and interpretive traditions. Similarly, the artforms discussed span a variety of historical periods, movements and categories.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination: 

Students are assessed in three ways in this course. 

1) In-class participation recorded through responses to discussion question posed in class and posted to the LMS. (10%) 

Student must be present to answer these questions- the online response area will only be open during class times. Students must attend all classes for this module unless they have a valid extenuating circumstance (i.e. illness.) 

2) Interactive Oral (40%)

These group assessments will take place in week 12 and are based on content covered in the first 3-4 weeks of the semester. Students will be examined in groups 4-5 with interaction from their lecturer. 

3) Essay (50%)

Students will submit an essay focused on one of the core questions covered in the course from weeks 4-11. The use of AI text-generation tools is not permitted in the planning, research or writing of this work.

Core Texts:
Gracyk, T., The Philosophy of Art, Polity Press
Carroll, N., Philosophy of Art: A Contemporary Introduction, Routledge
Hofstadter, A. and Kuhns, R., Philosophies of Art and Beauty: Selected Readings in Aesthetics from Plato to Heidegger, University of Chicago Press
Bredin, H. and Santoro-Brienza, L., Philosophies of Art and Beauty: Introduction to Aesthetics, Edinburgh University Press

 

History of Irish Thought
Code Semester ECTS
PI241 2 5

Lecturers:  Dr. John O’Reilly

Course Description: The course History of Irish Thought introduces the student to the thought of Irish men and women who have made a contribution to philosophical thought. This year the course will focus on two particular individuals, the 18th parliamentarian and writer Edmund Burke (1729 –1797) and the contemporary political philosopher Philip Pettit. Our main concern shall be to examine their respective contributions to questions of liberty, good government, and the sources of a just and stable society.

Prerequisites: None 

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based. 

Methods of assessment and examination: The course will be evaluated by continuous assessment and final essay. 

Core texts: 
Burke, Edmund. Reflections on the Revolution in France, Penguin.
Burke, Edmund. Pre-Revolutionary Writings, CUP, 2009.
Pettit, Philip. Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and Government, Oxford, 1999.
Pettit, Philip. On the People’s Terms: A Republican Theory and Model of Democracy, CUP, 2012. 

 
Formal Logic

Code

Semester

ECTS

PI2102

2

5

 Lecturer: Dr Nick Tosh

Course description: Formal logic is the systematic study of deductive reasoning. It is motivated by such questions as ‘what does it mean to say that a piece of reasoning is “correct”?’, ‘how can we tell when a piece of reasoning is correct?’, and ‘could we program a machine to do the job for us?’ The course begins with the concept of validity, and then moves on to cover sentence logic, truth tables, natural deduction, and elementary predicate logic. Throughout, we lean heavily on Paul Teller’s Logic Primer, now freely available online (https://tellerprimer.ucdavis.edu/). No previous knowledge is assumed, but good study habits are essential. Readings and practice exercises will be set each week, and students who fall behind may find it difficult to catch up.

Prerequisites: None

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials.

Methods of assessment and examination: Overall assessment is by written exam, supplemented by some short in-class written tests.

Core Texts:
Paul Teller, A Modern Formal Logic Primerhttps://tellerprimer.ucdavis.edu/

 
Philosophical Inquiry through P4C

Code

Semester

ECTS

PI2105

2

5

 Lecturers: Dr Lucy Elvis 

Course description: This is a peer-assisted learning module. It focuses on an educational approach to learning called Philosophy for Children (P4C). P4C is a form of inquiry-based learning that encourages critical thinking through democratic dialogue. It is a pedagogy that helps to foster critical, creative, and caring thinking skills amongst all types of learners. Through this internationally practised pedagogy, groups of learners become ‘communities of inquiry’, tackling philosophical questions they themselves identify and formulate. Through thinking together, these communities learn to challenge assumptions, give reasons, and cultivate their critical thinking skills. The module will provide students with a theoretical introduction to the P4C pedagogy, the opportunity to experience the pedagogy as members of a community of inquiry, and the skills needed to become a P4C facilitator. Students will develop their own facilitation practice by delivering P4C workshops (in teams) to groups of University of Galway first-year philosophy students on campus at University of Galway. 

Prerequisites:

  • This module is capped at 21 students. Students should both choose the module at registration and fill out the expression of interest form. Should the module become oversubscribed, instructors will assess your responses to the form (and if relevant your previous engagement with Philosophy.) The form is available here
  • In weeks 3 or 4 of the semester, there will be a Friday and Saturday training event (dates TBC). Attendance at these training events is compulsory for any student registered for PI2105. 
  • Garda vetting must be completed by any student participating in this module. Students will receive vetting information in week 2 of the semester. 

Teaching and learning methods: This course is taught through a mixture of lectures and seminar-based learning.

Methods of assessment

1) Satisfactory participation in all classes - including assigned facilitation of P4C workshops - is required.

2) Students are required to submit a detailed “theory-to-practice” journal.   In this journal, students will engage in theoretical reflection on the P4C pedagogy in response to short readings and will assess the impact of that reflection on their classroom practices. 

3) Book module and associated lesson plan.

Core Texts: You are not required to purchase a textbook. All extracts from primary texts will be available on Blackboard. However, there is a list of suggested preparatory core readings below:

Gregory, Maughn, Joanna Haynes, and Karin Murris. The Routledge International Handbook of Philosophy for Children. New York: Routledge, 2017.

Gregory, Laverty, Gregory, Maughn, and Laverty, Megan. In Community of Inquiry with Ann Margaret Sharp: Childhood, Philosophy and Education. Routledge International Studies in the Philosophy of Education, 2018.

Lipman, Matthew. Thinking in Education. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003.

Lipman, Matthew, Ann Margaret Sharp, and Frederick S. Oscanyan. Philosophy in the Classroom. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, [Pa.]: Temple University Press, 1980

Lyons, A., McIlrath, L. & Munck, R. Higher Education and Civic Engagement: Comparative Perspectives. UK: Palgrave MacMillan, 2012.

Naji, Rosnani Hashim, and Naji, Saeed. History, Theory and Practice of Philosophy for Children: International Perspectives. Routledge Research in Education. 2017. 

 

Final Year

Welcome to your Final Year 

It is good to have you back for the final year of your degree. All modules are optional in Final Year, but please note that there is a requirement to have at least a 2.1 in your second year Philosophy in order to register for the Extended Essay modules (PI399). If you are thinking of going on to Postgraduate study in Philosophy, the Extended essay module may be a good choice for you. 

Entry requirements: A pass in Second Arts Philosophy or its equivalent in the case of visiting and exchange students. Students registered for the B.A. (International) must also have attained a satisfactory academic performance during their year abroad.

‌Please make sure you are familiar with our Final Year Philosophy Handbook 25/26.

Answers to queries regarding online learning available here

Queries about learning answered here (English and Irish versions).

QA616 University of Galway Student Code of Conduct Policy.

Semester dates 

SEMESTER ONE STARTS ENDS
Teaching (12 weeks) 8th September 2025 28th November 2025
Study week   1st December 2025 5th December 2025
Semester 1 exams 8th December 2025 19th December 2025
 SEMESTER TWO    
Teaching (12 weeks)   13th January 2026 2nd April 2026    
Study week 13th April 2026 17th April 2026
Semester 2 exams 21st April 2026 8th May 2026

 **Autumn Repeat exams: 4th – 14th of August 2026 (9 days of exams) ** 

 

Third Year Modules 2025/2026

All third-year courses are optional. You should pick three modules each semester. Familiarity with Canvas is essential for your learning this year.

Please note that to register for year-long module PI399 Extended Essay, you must have achieved a Second-Year grade of 2:1 or higher in Philosophy. 

Semester 1:

  • PI315 Philosophy of Mind (Dr. O'Reilly)
  • PI3103 Environmental Ethics (Dr. Ward)
  • PI3104 Philosophy and Culture in Context (with placement) (Dr. Elvis)
  • PI3106 Formal Logic 2 (Dr. Tosh)
  • PI3107 Philosophy of Science (Dr. Tosh)
  • PI399 Extended Essay (Dr. Felzmann) (*)

Semester 2:

  • PI399 Extended Essay (Dr. Doyle) (*)
  • PI129 Advanced Philosophical Text (Dr. Tosh)
  • PI310 Topics in Applied Philosophy (Dr. Hull)
  • PI327 Philosophy of Religion (Prof. Ó Murchadha) 
  • PI3108 Topics in Post-Kantian Philosophy (Dr. Doyle)

* PI399 is a year-long 5ECTS module for which you register in Semester 1 and which you will attend over both semesters. Semester 2 will require more work to complete your research and writing; for workload reasons it is advisable to pick PI399 and three other modules in Semester 1 and two modules in Semester 2. 

Timetables

                                                                   3rd Arts Semester One 2025/26

Code   Title Lecturer Lecture
PI399 Extended Essay Dr Heike Felzmann

Mondays, 12-1
CA115

 PI315  Philosophy of Mind  Dr. John O'Reilly

Monday, 9-11
CA118

PI3100 Kant's Theoretical Philosophy Dr. Tsarina Doyle

Tuesdays, 11-1
AC201

PI3103 Environmental Ethics Dr. Nora Ward

Tuesdays, 2-3 Larmor Theatre

Wednesdays, 10-11 ENG 2003

PI3104  

Philosophy and Culture in Context

Dr. Lucy Elvis

Thursdays 12-6pm  
(4 workshops) (*)

25th September, 9th October, 23rd October and 20th November 

PI3106

Formal Logic 2

Dr. Nick Tosh

Tuesdays, 5-7
Seminar Room,
19 Distillery Road

PI3107

Philosophy of Science

Dr. Nick Tosh

Mondays, 4-6
AMB G008

Workshops dates and venues:

  • 25th of September (The Bridge room - Hardiman Building)
  • 9th October (G010 Hardiman Building)
  • 23rd October (The Bridge room - Hardiman Building)
  • 20th November (The Bridge room - Hardiman Building)

 

3rd Arts Semester Two 2025/2026

 

Code Title Lecturer Lecture
PI399 Extended Essay Dr. Tsarina Doyle

Mondays, 12-1
TB307 

P129 Advanced Philosophical Text  Dr. Nick Tosh

Tuesdays, 2-3,  

Thursdays, 1-2,  
Both lectures at AC214 

PI310

Topics in Applied Philosophy

Dr. Richard Hull

Tuesdays, 12-1, CSB-1007 

Wednesdays, 3-4, AC213   

 PI327 Philosophy of Religion Prof. Felix Ó Murchadha

Thursdays, 3-5
CA003 

PI3108 Topics in Post-Kantian Philosophy Dr. Tsarina Doyle

Tuesdays, 9-1 
CA001

 

There is no need to sign up to tutorials at the beginning of the year - lecturers will make and communicate any arrangements that might be in place with regard to splitting their classes for tutorials.  All modules will provide an interactive component to students.

Head of Third Years:   

Student Representatives for Third/Final Years:   

  • TBA


Individual Course Details

SEMESTER  1

Extended Essay (year-long module)

Code Semester ECTS
PI399 1 & 2 5

Lecturer: Sem. 1: Dr. Heike Felzmann, Sem. 2: Dr. Tsarina Doyle

Course description: The extended essay is an independent piece of research, intended to allow you to demonstrate the full range of your research skills and philosophical understanding of a topic of your choice. While you should not be afraid of being ambitious in terms of the argument that you present, you are expected to identify a clearly defined and specific research question, demonstrate high standards in literature research and present a well-supported and specific argument. You are required to discuss the choice of research question with a Philosophy lecturer during the first six weeks of Semester 1 and obtain their agreement to be your supervisor, and you will be developing your research and writing step-by-step over the two semesters. Work for this module consists in progressing your research and writing in defined stages, reflecting on different research-related issues within the group, presenting your work-in-progress to the class and attending supervisory meetings several times during the year. It will be assessed by a portfolio of continuous assessment and the final essay.

Prerequisites
: 2.1 average in Year 2 Philosophy. For exceptions consult the Head of Final Year, Dr. Tsarina Doyle.
Philosophy of Mind
Code Semester ECTS
PI315 1 5

Lecturer:  Dr. John O’Reilly

Course Description: The course begins with an introduction to three influential approaches to mental phenomena – Logical Behaviourism, Identity Theory, and the emergence of Functionalism. The second part of the course builds on these foundations via an exploration of David Lewis’ Analytic Functionalism and Jerry Fodor’s Psycho-functionalism. At this stage, we are ready to look at the Computational Theory of Mind and Daniel Dennett’s Intentional Stance. The final section of the course focuses on John Searle’s critique of the Computational approach to the mind with his “Chinese Room” thought experiment and on the advent of Embodied Cognition as a criticism of overly mind-centred accounts of cognition.

Kant's Theoretical Philosophy 

Code 

Semester 

ECTS 

PI3100  

1

5 

Lecturer:  Dr. Tsarina Doyle 

Course description: This module examines Kant's theoretical philosophy by focussing on his arguments for transcendental idealism in the Critique of Pure Reason. Particular attention will be paid to Kant's ambitious aim to establish the objectivity of Newtonian science whilst leaving room for the possibility of God, freedom and immortality by focussing on his arguments for the transcendental ideality of space and time, his argument for the transcendental deduction of the categories, his distinction between phenomena and noumena, the argument of the Analogies and Antinomies. The modules also incorporates a number of revision exercises to help with student learning and understanding of the text. 

Prerequisites: None 

Teaching and learning methods: The course is lecture-based, supplemented by tutorials. 

Methods of assessment and examination:  Assessment is based on a written essay at the end of the semester with continuous assessment added to the evaluation. 

 

Environmental Ethics 

Code Semester ECTS
PI3103 1 5

Lecturer:  Dr Nora Ward

Course description: This class will focus on the ethical, ecological and social dimensions of environmental issues. We begin with an exploration of the perception of nature in Western thought, through a review of texts that shaped the field of environmental ethics. As such, we will explore the relationship between human and non-human nature, addressing questions such as "Does non-human nature matter for its own sake, or simply for the sake of fulfilling human interests? What about the value of holistic entities such as ecosystems? What is intrinsic value anyway, and how does it differ from instrumental value?" Towards the latter half of the course, we will focus on the philosophical implications of international environmental issues such as climate change, indigenous rights, ecofeminism, environment justice and eco-terrorism.

 
Philosophy and Culture in Context

Code Semester ECTS
PI3104 1 5

Lecturer:  Dr. Lucy Elvis

Course description: This module explores philosophical approaches to the production and consumption of art and culture in contemporary society through an examination of four themes. Culture and reality, culture and technology, culture, culture and alienation and culture and violence. For each theme two different philosophical perspective will be explored to examine the dynamics of contemporary cultural production and consumption. 

Teaching and learning methods: This course is workshop based. Four workshops on four Thursday afternoons across the semester. One introductory lecture and one essay writing tutorial will also be offered to help students navigate the course. In-person attendance at all teaching is mandatory.

Methods of assessment and examination: Students are offered a choice of two assessment streams assessment model A: Placement (at TULCA festival of visual Arts), Reflection and Final Essay, model B Workshop, Podcast and Final Essay.  

 

Formal Logic 2 

Code    Semester ECTS
PI3106 1 5

Lecturer:  Dr. Nick Tosh 

Course description: This course is the sequel to the 2nd-year Formal Logic module PI2102. It introduces a new proof method -- truth trees -- and a mostly new formal language -- predicate logic with identity. The course text is Paul Teller's _Logic Primer_, freely available online (http://tellerprimer.ucdavis.edu/). Readings and practice exercises will be set each week. Familiarity with material taught in PI2102 is assumed. 

Prerequisites: You need to have passed PI2102 Formal Logic or have an equivalent level of experience with formal logic. 

 

PI3107 Philosophy of Science 

Code Semester ECTS
PI3107 1 5

Lecturer: Dr. Nick Tosh 

Course description: This module surveys twentieth-century philosophy of science. Topics covered include logical positivism, the problem of induction, paradoxes of confirmation, Popper's falsificationism, Kuhn's vision of science, and scientific realism. 

Methods of assessment and examination: Overall assessment is by written exam, supplemented by some short in-class written tests. 

Recommended Book Resources:  
Peter Godfrey-Smith 2021, Theory and Reality: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Science, 2 Ed., University of Chicago Press [ISBN: 978-022661865]  

 

SEMESTER 2: 

 

Topics in Applied Philosophy
Code Semester ECTS
PI310 2 5

Lecturer:  Dr Richard Hull

Course description: This course is concerned with the application of the study of philosophy to issues of public concern. It takes the experiences of disability and social deprivation as case studies and looks at how such experiences can best be theoretically articulated. Particular attention is given to rival theories of human freedom and their relevance to contemporary social and political debates. Attention is also focused on how different theories of justice and morality imply very different social responses to the issues of disability and deprivation. Subjects covered include Rawls’ theory of freedom, Nozick's libertarianism, the acts/omissions distinction and the doctrine of double effect. The course is designed to give students an analytical background that can be used to explore other contemporary social and political issues.

PI327 - Philosophy of Religion

Code 

Semester 

ECTS 

PI327 

Lecturer: Prof. Felix Ó Murchadha

Course description: This course will discuss one of the principal problems of the philosophy of religion, namely the relation of faith and reason.  The relation of faith and reason has been a matter of controversy since the early Christian thinkers.  In modernity, with a revised account of reason and rationality, the question became increasingly complex and the philosophical positions on this issue increasingly divergent.  We will look at two philosophers: Kant and Kierkegaard.  Following upon that, we will discuss a number of themes including forgiveness, language, love, violence and time.  

 

Advanced Philosophical Text  

Code Semester ECTS
PI129 2 5

Lecturer:  Dr Nick Tosh 

Course description: The module allows students to read a philosophical text in greater detail than is usually possible in a survey course. This year, the text is Paradoxes by R. M. Sainsbury. With this book as our guide, we will examine paradoxes of rational action, rational belief, logic and truth. Specific examples will likely include the prisoner's dilemma, Newcomb's paradox, the raven paradox, the paradox of the unexpected examination, Russell's paradox and the liar paradox. 

 

PI3108 Topics in post-Kantian Philosophy (new module in 25/26) 

Code 

Semester 

ECTS 

PI3108 

2 

5  

 
Lecturer: Dr. Tsarina Doyle 

Course description: This module engages in an in-depth investigation of the possibility of metaphysics in post-Kantian philosophy with particular emphasis on Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophical thought. The first part of the module investigates Nietzsche’s interpretation of the meaning and significance of Kant’s transcendental idealism. It also explores how Nietzsche’s own philosophical writings, both early and late, are informed by his understanding of and response to Kant. The second part of the module explores prominent interpretations of Nietzsche’s metaphysics, including the panpsychist, ontic structural realist, neo-Darwinian, constructivist and dispositional readings. The implications of these interpretations for how we should understand Nietzsche’s philosophical psychology, philosophy of value and political philosophy will be explored in detail. Students taking this module will be expected to prepare in advance for class and to actively participate in class discussions.