Bachelor of Social Science Honours in Philosophy

The Philosophy programme is an academic and broadly vocational discipline which aims to equip students with the capacity to reflect on broad questions having to do with the nature of ethics, justice, science and rationality. It provides intensive study of the history of philosophy. It also seeks to recruit this history of thought, critique and argumentation to the purpose of considering questions pertaining to the society and culture in transition that is contemporary South Africa.

Thus the programme highlights questions of morality, justice, media, and the nature of human difference and also explores a series of questions pertaining to the construction of Africa as a place and a concept. Students will be provided with an understanding of philosophy as an historical and conceptual discipline, and with the capacity to think philosophy - which means reflectively, critically and in a way that submits itself to rational argumentation - about a number of issues of key importance to the integrity of South African life. The programme provides intellectual preparation for further work in the fields of law, business or public life generally, and or for further academic study in philosophy or in many other fields

• Appropriate Bachelor's degree.
• Entry is also possible through University of Natal's Rule 33 for postgraduate study.

• Analyse and construct arguments
• Demonstrate ability in "critical thinking"
• Read and analyse texts
• Compose sustained arguments
• Write with analytical clarity and high levels of organization
• Deal with concepts at high levels of abstraction
• Recognize, critique and defend a range of positions on an issue
• Understand the essentially constructed and contested nature of knowledge
• Understand the importance of "intellectuals" in society
• Understand the importance of critical reflection for the project of the liberal society
• Understand the global philosophical heritages pertaining to contemporary Africa and South Africa: Both Euro-American and African
• Demonstrate training in ethics
• Reflect on and critically explore complex issues of contemporary significance such as Africanisation, liberalism, cultural diversity and the uses of technology and do so in the light of the abilities, training and understanding outlined above
• Appreciate the importance of cultural values in the dignity of human lives
• Demonstrate intellectual preparation for further work in the fields of law, business or public life generally, and/or for further academic study in philosophy or in many other fields.
• Show increased knowledge of contemporary philosophy
• Demonstrate some capacity in conducting primary research

1. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of the general field of enquiry.
2. Demonstrate a detailed knowledge of specific areas of inquiry in the programme
3. Understand the interrelationships amongst various areas of the field of knowledge
4. Analyze components/issues/factors/structure etc.
5. Grasp the theoretical and philosophical underpinnings of the area of study
6. Demonstrate a thorough knowledge of current critical debates
7. Summarize, compare and evaluate a substantial body of knowledge
8. Construct a sustained argument, formulate questions and work towards solutions
9. Command the conceptual discourse of the field of study
10. Solve problems, both theoretical and applied
11. Demonstrate an appropriate understanding of the discipline
12. Contextualise this study within the social environment and in the light of historical understanding
13. Develop a clear understanding of the historical and present state and possible future of the disciplinary areas and their interdisciplinary concomitants, in which they are working
14. Demonstrate a command of academic English at an appropriate level
15. Demonstrate familiarity with information technology at an appropriate level
16. Understand human diversity in its moral and conceptual aspects
17. Understand the diversity of academic approaches which impinge on the discipline in question.
18. Present findings at n appropriate level, both orally and in writing

Integrated assessment appropriately incorporated to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved

The Universtiy of Natal is currently reforming its assessment strategies to include the assessment of applied competence for each qualification. In the meantime, a combination of continuous assessment and traditional written examinations serve to assess the integration of all/most of the learning outcomes for each module in a qualification.