Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor
Elizabeth Schier
by appointment
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
39cp or admission to GDipArts
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit examines some traditional questions in metaphysics, focusing on questions about the fundamental nature of reality. The first half of the unit is structured around a discussion of time travel. It addresses questions such as: What is the nature of time? Does time flow or is it static? What is causation? Is time travel possible? The second half of the unit is devoted to a critical examination of the metaphysical theory of materialism, which states that everything is ultimately physical in nature. We examine this theory's explanations of colour, consciousness, free will, and value. The unit concludes with a discussion of whether there is, indeed, a single, ultimate reality, or whether a pluralistic view makes more sense.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Late outlines and papers will, absent an extension from me, lose 2% of the total score per calendar day, to a maximum of 20%. If you need an extension, you must request one by email before the due date. The short paper and the final paper must both be completed to pass the unit.
Quizzes & Tutorials (for Internal Students) and Lecture Summaries & Forum Participation (for External Students) cannot be made up if missed except in exceptional circumstances.
I take academic honesty very seriously. Misrepresenting other's work as your own will be grounds for a zero on the assignment in question and, if severe enough, referral to the Faculty Disciplinary Committee. If you have questions about how to properly cite work or how to credit sources, please talk to me and see also the Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Reading summary & discussion | 35% | Each week 2-13 |
Short Essay | 20% | 18/4/16 |
Essay Plan | 10% | 30/5/16 |
Essay Response | 10% | 13/6/16 |
Final Essay | 25% | 16/6/16 |
Lecture Attendance | 0% | Continuous |
Due: Each week 2-13
Weighting: 35%
You need to submit a summary of the reading for 7 of the 10 tutorials. It is due before the start of the tutorial. Late submissions will not be marked. Each week is worth 5 marks and if you submit more than 7 the best 7 will count. You also need to attend and engage in the tutorial discussion for each week. If you do not attend your summary will not be counted.
Summaries should be submitted via the link provided on ilearn.
Due: 18/4/16
Weighting: 20%
A short (1500 word) essay on the first part of the course (time and colours).
Due: 30/5/16
Weighting: 10%
You will write a short, 1-2 page plan of your final essay focusing on communicating the structure of your argument
Due: 13/6/16
Weighting: 10%
You will write a response to the comments on your first essay detailing the mistakes you made and the effort you went to in the second essay to fix those mistakes
Due: 16/6/16
Weighting: 25%
A longer 2500 word essay on the second half of the course.
Due: Continuous
Weighting: 0%
You need to attend 75% i.e. 18/24 of the lectures. If you have a demonstrated clash you need to have listened to the recording by the end of the week that the lecture was given. You will be penalized 2 marks for each missed lecture.
Please contact Liz if you have a clash
CLASSES
There are 2 lectures and 1 tutorial per week. As of publishing these were scheduled for:
Lecture 1: Monday 3-4pm E4B 316
Lecture 2: Thursday 12-1pm Y3A 211
Tutorial: Thursday 2-3pm C5A 404
Please check the timetable for any late changes.
Students are expected to attend the lectures and participate in the tutorial discussion.
READING
The readings are listedeach week on iLearn. Readings should be done before the first lecture of the week.
WEBSITE
The unit website is available through iLearn (http://ilearn.mq.edu.au). It contains essential resources for the unit, and you are expected to log in on a regular basis. I will communicate with the course as a whole using the iLearn announcement function, so please check your Macquarie email regularly.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
New Assessment Policy in effect from Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. For more information visit http://students.mq.edu.au/events/2016/07/19/new_assessment_policy_in_place_from_session_2/
Assessment Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy prior to Session 2 2016 http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by: