University Course Planner The University of Adelaide Australia

PHIL 2040 - Metaphysics: Identity, Time and Freedom

Career: Undergraduate
Units: 3
Term: 4220
Campus: North Terrace
Contact: Up to 3 hours per week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange: Yes
Available for Non-Award Study: No
Pre-Requisite: At least 6 units of Level I undergraduate study
Incompatible: PHIL 2027
Assessment: Major essay 50%, Shorter Essay 35%, Workshop Preparation activities 15%
Syllabus:

Metaphysics is the branch of philosophy that investigates very general questions about the nature of reality, questions that are prior to other scientific investigations. Where physics might tell us how objects move through space and time, metaphysics investigates questions like 'What is the nature of time itself?', 'How do objects continue to exist over time and through change?', 'What is an object?' or even 'What is existence?'. Metaphysics also concerns itself with questions about the relations between different branches of knowledge. For example: 'Is the world entirely physical?', or 'Can human agency be reconciled with the existence of causal laws?' In this course, we will approach some of these issues as they are treated in contemporary analytic philosophy. We focus particularly on the nature of time (including time travel and the significance of relativity theory); the nature of identity (including personal identity, the paradox of change, and the nature of parts and wholes); and the problem of free will.

Course Fees

To display course fees, please select your status and program below:

Student Status

Domestic
International

What type of place are you studying in

Commonwealth supported
Full fee paying

Study Level

Undergraduate
Postgraduate Coursework
Non Award

Program of Study

Study Abroad student tuition fees are available here

Only some Postgraduate Coursework programs are available as Commonwealth Supported. Please check your program for specific fee information.

The fees displayed below for international students are for students commencing a program in 2024 only. International students who commenced a program in 2023 or prior can find their fee here.

Units
EFTSL
Amount
3
0.125
          
  


Course Outline

A Course Outline which includes Learning Outcomes, Learning Resources, Learning & Teaching for this course may be accessed here


Critical Dates

Term Last Day to Add Online Census Date Last Day to WNF Last Day to WF
4220 Mon 08/08/2022 Wed 17/08/2022 Fri 16/09/2022 Fri 28/10/2022


Class Details

Enrolment Class: Lecture
Class Nbr Section Size Available Dates Days Time Location
29240 LEC0 100 29 This class does not have any timetabled face-to-face sessions. Please check MyUni or contact your Course Coordinator for details.
Note: This lecture is pre-recorded and can be viewed any time after publication in MyUni. Please refer to MyUni for details once enrolled.
Related Class: Workshop
Class Nbr Section Size Available Dates Days Time Location
24366 WR02 30 13 4 Aug - 15 Sep Thursday 5pm - 6pm MyUni, OL, Online Class
6 Oct - 27 Oct Thursday 5pm - 6pm MyUni, OL, Online Class
24367 WR01 80 26 4 Aug - 15 Sep Thursday 4pm - 5pm Engineering & Mathematics, EM205, Teaching Room
6 Oct - 27 Oct Thursday 4pm - 5pm Engineering & Mathematics, EM205, Teaching Room