Master of Philosophy in Philosophy

There are two routes which can be followed to achieve the Master of Philosophy

A. Master of Philosophy (by dissertation)

B. Master of Philosophy (by coursework and research paper)

Irrespective of whether route A or route B is taken the purpose of the MPhil is to

provide reflective members and leaders of society able to think clearly and critically about intellectual and ethical issues in a globalized and multicultural world. Such members and leaders will be able to examine and articulate their own beliefs and the beliefs and presuppositions and values which shape the world and its cultures. The qualification will enable candidates to critically identify and appropriate the constituents of the public and common good and so contribute to personal, social, economic, political and cultural development and transformation.

The qualification will contribute to the regional and national goals by equipping members and leaders of society with the intellectual and moral resources which help to build human society. This purpose will be achieved through a wide range of modules in such areas as African philosophy, Philosophy of Culture, Philosophy of the Human Person, Dignity of the Person, Philosophy of Knowledge, Philosophy of Being, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Science, Issues in Science and Religion. It will provide skilled professionals in the area of Philosophy who will be able to advance to the further level of NQF Level 8 PG 4 as well as a range of professions and educators and leaders able to apply critical and reflective thinking to the diverse sectors of human life.

Rationale for the qualification.

The Master of Philosophy in Philosophy is designed for educators, professionals, leaders in civil society, pastoral leaders, administrators and other qualified people who wish to extend and deepen their professional abilities. The qualification is suitable for anyone wishing to reflect critically and clearly and responsibly about the complex social and ethical situations arising in the contemporary world. It aims to provide analytical skills as well to foster ability in synthesis and interdisciplinary integration and the capacity to appreciate the perspectives of other thinkers and other cultures. Such skills and abilities and a solid grasp of historical developments of philosophy, along with an awareness of a wide range of philosophical methods and of the questions arising in the various areas of systematic philosophy, are required by leaders in different sectors of society: civil service, medical and legal fields, economics, communication, social work, business studies, government service, pastoral ministry, international relations. The qualification contributes to the regional and national goals by developing leaders capable of critical and synthetic thinking in relation to the common and public good pertaining to a multicultural society. Candidates from various disciplines will be enabled to upgrade from NQF levels 6 or 7 or 8 PG 1 to level 8 PG 3 and have a basis for moving on to level 8 PG 4.

Those admitted to this qualification programme will generally be in possession of NQF levels 6 or 7. They will have the skills required for being awarded the bachelor degree and for beginning the masters level degree. These include:

• A solid knowledge base in areas constituting the field of philosophy or closely related to the field.
• An informed understanding of the key terms rules, concepts and principles and established principles and methods of philosophy or of a discipline which can be related to philosophy.
• An ability to solve well defined but unfamiliar problems using correct procedures and appropriate evidence.
• An ability to critically analyze texts and to synthesize and integrate information as well as to present that information in a well structured coherent argument using academic or professional conventions.
• An ability to map new knowledge onto a given body of theory, to work with a multiplicity of viewpoints and also to operate in variable and unfamiliar learning contexts requiring responsibility and initiative.
• An ability to identify philosophical issues arising out of prior learning and prior experience along with an ability to apply previous philosophical expertise to new areas.
• An ability to identify one's own learning needs and to interact effectively with a learning group.

Such skills will support the achievement of the qualification.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of prior learning is given to relevant practical and theoretical experience in the field or subfield. The relevance is assessed by the Academic Board which decides whether it suffices to allow admittance to the qualification and whether it may be admitted as partial requirement for the achievement of the qualification. Structured means for the assessment of individual learning against entrance requirements and against exit outcomes are devised on a case by case basis. These procedures may be assessed by independent moderators.

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Exit Level Outcomes

Exit level outcomes are divided into (a) general outcomes relating to basic philosophical knowledge and skills and to the ability to apply philosophical notions and methods to concrete social, political, ethical, religious and cultural contexts and (b) specific outcomes focusing on different specializations within philosophy. The outcomes are meant to relate directly to the purpose of the degree: to provide competent philosophers and members and leaders of society able to think clearly and sensitively, critically and responsibly in a complex world. Assessment criteria for this qualification will identify the degree to which the outcomes are clearly operative in the concrete performance of the candidate. They will identify the degree to which the candidate can apply his or her learning in an integrated way and so demonstrate an overall expertise.

General outcomes

On achieving this qualification a candidate will

• Possess analytical skills along with the ability to sympathetically appreciate and dialectically relate and integrate diverse viewpoints.
• Possess a solid grasp of the historical developments of philosophy.
• Be able to analyze and interpret and critique important philosophical texts and produce papers and give lectures on a variety of philosophical issues.
• Be aware of a wide range of philosophical positions and methods and be able to apply this knowledge to complex social, economic, cultural situations.
• Be able to provide expertise on matters relating to the public and common good.
• Be able to guide other into the process of critical reading and effective research.
• Be able to design courses and to identify important areas and issues requiring further research.
• Be able to provide leadership within the field of philosophy and in areas of public life requiring the abilities of careful, critical and responsible thinking.

The general exit level outcomes are concretized by the specific outcomes for the core and elective modules.

Exit level outcomes for particular core modules

On achieving the qualification the candidate will

Dignity of the human person

• Have an overview of the historical development of the notion of human dignity.
• Be able to identify situations where dignity is overlooked or where reductionary or distorted accounts of dignity need to be critiqued.
• Be able to make responsible decisions and judgments in their diverse professions relating to family life, social and political order, education, justice and equality and human rights, human good and culture.
• Be acquainted with debates over multi-culturism as well as the African view of the human being
• Learners will be able to engage contemporary developments in feminist thought and gender issues.

Foundational philosophy I: Philosophy of knowledge

• Understand the nature, extent and limits, sources, foundations and justification of the process of human knowing.
• Be familiar with the basic questions and positions concerning knowledge.
• Demonstrate knowledge about the social and cultural contexts of knowledge will be examined
• Will be familiar with questions concerning knowledge in an African context from the perspective knowledge, critical theory and, in particular, hermeneutics.

Foundational philosophy II: Philosophy of being

• Be familiar with the ground, sources, causes, structure, categories and modalities of being or reality.
• Be able to identify the basic dimensions and structures and modes of actuality found in the universe of being.
• Understand the historical development of metaphysical (and anti-metaphysical) thinking from Aristotle and Aquinas through to contemporary thinkers such as Whitehead, Heidegger.
• Will have knowledge about the viability of this kind of metaphysical thinking in a postmodern age and in African culture.

Research Paper

• Have developed the ability to identify valuable areas and topics for research especially those linked to his/her own interest, concern or experience.
• Be able to critically investigate a topic and ground it in an appropriate theoretical framework.
• Be able to research the available literature on a topic.
• Have demonstrated an understanding of the chosen field and an ability to apply the research methods appropriate to the field.
• Be able to explore and analyse data forms in order to provide a (new) perspective or understanding of the problematic.
• Be familiar with methods of scientific research including writing, referencing and correct style.
• Be able to defend his conclusions with peers and qualified educators.

Exit level outcomes for electives

Upon completion of the qualification candidates will

African philosophy

• Have an overview of developments within African Philosophy,
• Be familiar with the debate over the character and identity of African Philosophy and the distinctive questions and methods which constitute philosophising in an African context.
• Have knowledge about particular current issues like Ethnophilosophy, Sage Philosophy, Professional Philosophy, African Nationalism, Afrocentricism, Philosophy of Liberation, Deconstructive Trends, Hermeneutical-Historical, Post-colonial trends
• Know some aspects of the thinking of major African based authors such as Tempels, Appiah, Fanon, Masolo, Senghor, Serequeberhan, Oruka, Gyekye, Wiridu, Houtondji, and some African-American thinkers such as Du Bois, Blydon, Outlaw and Asante

Ethics A

• Have an overview of the nature of ethics and the three approaches to ethics, notably the analytical approach, the phenomenological approach and natural law and ethics based on human nature.
• Be able to discern a good action from a bad one and will understand what constitutes a good human life.
• Understand the relationship between human acts and moral virtue.
• Understand the ethical dilemmas in our South African society and search for creative ways to confront these dilemmas.

Ethics B

• Be able to understand the nature of moral norms and rules.
• Be able to evaluate different norms and rules and be able to apply them to particular circumstances.
• Have an understanding of different models of moral decision-making: deontological, teleological and models based on relationship/responsibility.
• Have an understanding of the nature of moral dilemmas and be able to analyze conflict of values.
• Be able to apply particular principles: principle of intrinsic evil, principle of double effect, proportionalism.

Philosophy of culture

• Know the principal concerns around the meaning of what is meant by 'culture' and 'a culture'; what constitutes a culture and why culture is important
• Demonstrate a understanding of and sensitivity to cultural diversity and human unity.
• Will be familiar with the relationship of a member of society to the culture which shapes the society
• Will have the skill to recognize the impact of culture on identity and especially on gender roles

Philosophy of persons

• Understand a theory of human persons based on the Aristotelian/Thomistic tradition
• Be able to use this understanding in dialoguing with contempoaray philosophies of human persons such as personalism, existentialism and phenomenology.
• Have an overview of models of the mind which arise out of studies in artificial intelligence and computer science as well as sociobiological accounts of the human being.
• Have investigated questions of self-understanding and identity of individuals and the different notions of personal identity including psychoanalytical theories of the self.

Philosophy of religion

• Be aware of the central problems in the philosophy of religion.
• Appreciate the epistemological, metaphysical and anthropological questions involved in religious experience and religious belief.
• Be familiar with questions relating to African religious beliefs
• Have knowledge of some major themes such as the nature of religion and religious belief; world religion and philosophy; the arguments for and against the existence of God: and contemporary reformulations of the problems of evil

Philosophy of science

• Be familiar with the philosophical issues concerning the nature and status of scientific knowledge which continue to arise as science develops.
• Have a grasp of the methods of the scientific enterprise and the philosophy behind it
• Have the skill to evaluate the methods and conclusions of science.
• Understand how the cultural or social context affects the status of what is presented as scientific knowledge?

Science of Religion

• Know that science and religion are not in conflict; rather, they ask different questions.
• Be acquainted with the theological and philosophical insights on the question of creation, the knowing subject and human access to its reality and purpose.
• Be further acquainted with the differing position apropos the relationship between science and religion.
• Acquire skills to promote goodwill and harmony between the faith community and the world of science.

Integrated Assessment.

Integrated assessment is aimed at evaluating foundational, reflexive and practical competence of the candidate. It evaluates the ability of the candidate to relate a solid historical and theoretical understanding of the subject with the capacity for independent research and study and to apply philosophical knowledge and skills to a wide range of concrete situations related to the intellectual, social, political, moral, cultural and religious dimensions of the contemporary world.

Overall competence is shown when there is evidence that the candidate

• Demonstrates a solid depth of philosophical knowledge and a high level of theoretical understanding with regard to basic philosophical positions, concepts, principles and methods.
• Is able to recognize the relevance of major historical thinkers for contemporary questions.
• Is able to produce assignments that are well focused and carefully structured and which are presented in suitable format.
• Is able to engage in a close reading analytical reading of primary philosophical texts.
• Demonstrates a solid understanding of the different areas of philosophy and their interrelationships as well as the relationship of philosophy to other disciplines.
• Be able to produce a research paper indicating independent and organized thought.
• Be able to engage dialectically with different philosophical positions and traditions.
• Be able to take responsibility for his or her own position whilst being adaptable and flexible enough to appreciate radically different viewpoints.
• Is confident in the use of research skills appropriate to philosophy.
• Be able to apply philosophical concepts and principles and methods to specific concrete issues.
• Be able to use philosophical skills to draw up positions papers and reports on matters relating to the public good or to issues in the contemporary world.
• To apply philosophical resources to the particular social and economic and cultural contexts of S.A.
• To engage in debates and seminars and contribute to interdisciplinary forums concerning matter of applied ethics, dignity and human rights, the relationship of law and morality etc.

The main methods of assessment will be participation in class debates and seminars, evidence of critical thinking, ability to offer accounts of experience that are phenomenologically accurate, ability to integrate different points and arguments; the ability to present philosophical positions are arguments; assignments, research papers and comprehensive final exams.