PY4678 Philosophising the Body

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 1

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

Restricted to students on Honours Philosophy programmes and Grad Dip Philosophy

Planned timetable

TBC

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

Module coordinator

Dr L A Jones

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

Module Staff

Dr Lisa Jones, Dr Jade Fletcher

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

Module description

For most of its history, western analytic philosophy has privileged mind over body, prioritising our understanding of mind, soul, or consciousness while having little to say about the material aspect of our being. While cognitive science and philosophy of mind have begun to address the body as a source of cognition, philosophising the body as a social, political, and ethical entity has mostly been the domain of continental philosophy, feminist philosophy, applied ethics and aesthetics. This module will introduce students to some of the philosophical concerns raised by our being embodied, addressing questions about such matters as: the nature of embodiment; the significance of our bodies and their differences; bodily appearance, dress and adornment; bodily beauty, bodily performance, and body modification (among other topics). Some of the topics to be explored will address sensitive issues, so students should be prepared for this (appropriate content warnings will be given).

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS PY1012

Assessment pattern

Coursework - 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 2-hour lecture (x 10 weeks), 1 x 1-hour seminar (x 10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

30

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

Guided independent study hours

266

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

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand and articulate some of the problems and theories in philosophical discussions of the body
  • Engage critically with a range of philosophical literature addressing the body
  • Analyse and critically evaluate arguments
  • Discuss philosophical material in a group setting
  • Form their own views on some of these debated topics, and defend their views in written and verbal formats