Introduction to Philosophy: What is Philosophy? (PHIL1002)

Course overview

This introductory course sets out to investigate the question 'What is Philosophy?' by presenting a series of Western and Indigenous philosophical approaches from across history. Ranging from Ancient Greek and Indigenous Australasian, through to Early Modern and 20th century European, feminist, and postcolonial philosophy, this course explores the trajectory of the Western philosophical tradition (and its critics), exploring questions such as: What is wisdom? Does God exist? Can we know anything for certain? What is reality? What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to have a body, a gender, a race? Are we fundamentally free? What is the relation between action and thought? In the process of examining these questions, this course explores what philosophy is and what philosophers do and considers the purpose of 'philosophy' as both a field of study and a way of life.

The questions of what philosophy is and what philosophers do are approached through a discussion of the work of philosophers such as Plato, Descartes, Hume, Camus, Sartre, andﾠBeauvoir. The first section of the course is devoted to questions of the basis what it means to 'do' philosophy, the place of beauty and love in existence, arguments around the existence of God, how we come to 'know' anything, and what the nature of reality is, ranging across the history of philosophy from the Classical to the Early Modern periods. The second section provides an introduction to philosophy from the existential and phenomenological perspectives of the absurd and meaning, existentialistﾠethics, Indigenous existentialism, authenticity and freedom, politics and the Other.

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Course requirements

Assumed background

There is no assumed background knowledge required for this course.

Incompatible

You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:

PHIL1010, PHIL1012, PHIL7140

Course staff

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Aims and outcomes

Philosophy uses critical thinking and logical argument to look at questions relating to the meaning of life, for example, the nature of the external world, the nature of human beings, knowledge, meaning, freedom, ethics and politics. This course introduces students to some of the basic questions of philosophy in the context of reading some of the major thinkers of modern philosophy, including Descartes, Locke, Hume, Sartre, Merleau-Ponty, Fanon and Beauvoir. Students in this course are given an opportunity to develop their own ideas and their own voice and to understand the role of philosophical thinking in everyday life.

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment details

Tutorial Participation

• In-person

Mode

Activity/ Performance, Oral, Written

Category

Participation/ Student contribution

Weight

30%

Due date

5/08/2025 - 22/10/2025

There will be no tutorial in Week 3 due to the Wednesday publc holiday.

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Students with a valid, documented excuse for missing tutorials should contact their tutor for a make-ups.

Essay 1

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

35%

Due date

8/09/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit via turn-it-in on Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Essay 2

Mode

Written

Category

Essay/ Critique

Weight

35%

Due date

10/11/2025 2:00 pm

Learning outcomes

L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Submission guidelines

Submit via turn-it-in on Blackboard.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Additional course grading information

Your essays will be assessed according to the following criteria: 

1.  Ability to define the topic or philosophical issue under debate. (Topic definition.)

2.  Ability to construct a well-reasoned argument for a certain point of view. (Argument and Structure.)

3.  Depth and breadth of understanding of the various positions in a philosophical debate. (Scope and Depth of Treatment)

4.  Insight and/or originality in interpreting texts or constructing a point of view or argument. (Originality)

5.  Capacity to produce a polished, well-written and appropriately referenced essay. (Presentation)

To achieve a grade of 7 (High Distinction, 85-100%), your essay should reflect an exceptional level of achievement. It should demonstrate that you have undertaken extensive, high-level research, that you are able to form a very rigorous, sustained (multi-layered) and well-organised argument, and that your discussion is original and creative. It should also demonstrate that you are able to evaluate and organise data and/or evidence in a critical manner and that you have a sophisticated and insightful understanding of problems and issues. Your essay will be very well written, clear and concise, pay strict attention to discipline conventions and have minimal, if any errors in referencing and expression: This grade is assigned for a total (sum of all the assessment components) in the range 85-100%. See assessment components for specific grading criteria.

To achieve a grade of 6 (Distinction, 75-84%), your essay should reflect an advanced level of achievement. It should demonstrate that you have undertaken wide research, that you are able to form a rigorous, sustained (multi-layered) and well-organised argument, and that your discussion is coherent and convincing. It should also demonstrate that you are able to evaluate data and/or evidence in a perceptive manner, and that your understanding of problems and issues is perceptive and insightful. Your essay will be well written, clear and concise, follow discipline conventions and have few errors in referencing and expression: This grade is assigned for a total (sum of all the assessment components) in the range 75-84%. See assessment components for specific grading criteria.

To achieve a grade of 5 (Credit, 65 – 74%) your essay should reflect a proficient level of achievement. It should demonstrate that you have undertaken the expected level of research, that you are able to develop or adapt convincing, sustained (multi-layered) arguments and justify them adequately, that you are able to evaluate data and/or evidence in a proficient manner, and that you have a good understanding of problems and issues. The presentation and referencing of your essay will largely follow discipline conventions, perhaps have some errors in referencing and expression, and demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively: This grade is assigned for a total (sum of all the assessment components) in the range 65-74%. See assessment components for specific grading criteria.

To achieve a grade of 4 (Pass, 50 – 64%) your essay should reflect functional achievement. It should demonstrate that you are able to apply, in a non-stereotypical way, fundamental concepts and skills, that you have undertaken a basic level of research and have the basic ability to evaluate data and/or evidence, to identify problems and issues, to offer insights and to develop routine arguments. Your organisation, writing and referencing will be adequate, not stereotypical, and use some of the discipline conventions to communicate appropriately: This grade is assigned for a total (sum of all the assessment components) in the range 50-64%. See assessment components for specific grading criteria.

To achieve a grade of 3 (Marginal Fail, 45 – 49%), your essay should reflect developing levels of achievement. It should demonstrate that you have a superficial knowledge of fundamental concepts and skills, that you have undertaken a basic level of research, made some attempt to evaluate data and/or evidence, to identify problems and issues, and to offer insights. Your arguments, while underdeveloped, show your emerging ability to apply knowledge and skills. Your organisation and writing will be adequate, perhaps poor, and your referencing and use of discipline conventions poor/and or inconsistent. Alternatively, your essay may, in part, be well written and suggest engagement and achievement but will (a) mostly exhibit stereotypical and superficial understanding and (b) mostly fail to develop a sustained (multi-layered) argument: This grade is assigned for a total (sum of all the assessment components) in the range 45-49%. See assessment components for specific grading criteria.

To achieve a grade of 2 (Fail, 25-44%) your essay will reflect deficiencies in skill acquisition and in your understanding of the fundamental concepts of the course. It will demonstrate that you have not undertaken adequate research, that you are unable to evaluate data and/or evidence, to identify problems and issues, or to offer insights adequately. Your arguments will be unsupported and/or inappropriate, your organisation and writing will be poor and/or inappropriate and referencing and use of discipline conventions poor/and or inconsistent. Alternatively, your essay may suggest developing or higher achievement but will (a) exhibit stereotypical and superficial understanding and (b) fail to develop a sustained (multi-layered) argument: This grade is assigned for a total (sum of all the assessment components) in the range 25-44%. See assessment components for specific grading criteria.

To achieve a grade of 1 (Low Fail, 0-24%), your essay will reflect minimal evidence of achievement, and exhibit deficiencies in skill acquisition and in your understanding of the fundamental concepts of the course. It will demonstrate that you have not undertaken adequate research, that you are unable to evaluate data and/or evidence, to identify problems and issues, and/or to offer insights adequately. Your arguments will be unsupported and/or inappropriate, your organisation and writing will be poor and/or inappropriate, and referencing and use of discipline conventions poor/and or inconsistent: This grade is assigned for a total (sum of all the assessment components) in the range 1-24%. See assessment components for specific grading criteria.

Grade X: No assessable work received. 

Failing Criteria and Academic Misconduct

Fabrication or misrepresentation of sources will result in an automatic maximum grade of 2 for this assessment, regardless of performance in other criteria. This includes but is not limited to: citing non-existent sources or attributing false quotes to real sources. Such issues demonstrate failure to meet the core learning outcomes for the course and may also be referred for academic misconduct.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

• Failure to submit all major assessment items (those worth 15% and above) will result in a maximum grade of 2 (Fail).
• By submitting work through Turnitin you are deemed to have accepted the following declaration: ‘I certify that this assignment is my own work and has not been submitted, either previously or concurrently, in whole or in part, to this University or any other educational institution, for marking or assessment’.
• All students must ensure that they receive their Turnitin receipt on every submission of assessment items. YOU MUST CHECK THAT THE RECEIPT CONFIRMS THAT SUBMISSION HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL.
• A valid Turnitin receipt will be the only evidence accepted if assessments are missing.

Without evidence, the assessment will receive the standard late penalty, or after 7 calendar days, will receive zero. In the case of a Blackboard outage, please contact the Course Coordinator as soon as possible so that they can confirm the outage with ITS.

• It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they are submitting assessment items on a device that is capable of the task, and that appropriate internet bandwidth and speed is available. If you cannot be sure that your device or internet will enable you to complete or submit an assessment task, you must come onto campus and use one of the University Computers in the Library or Computer Labs.
• Plagiarism, and asking or paying someone else to do your work is cheating and constitutes academic misconduct. See ECP Section 6.1
• Feedback against the assessment criteria in the form of comments on your script will be provided through Turnitin or on your script directly.
• For information on assessment remarks see: https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-assessment/querying-result

Word count: A word count that is within ±10% of the set length (word limit) is acceptable. Word count does not include footnotes; however, discursive footnotes are included in the word count. A word count that is outside these 10% will receive a proportionate penalty and will be graded against the grading criteria.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Additional learning resources information

META101x - a Massive Open-access Online Course (MOOC) developed by UQx. This online course has resources and information relating to some of the topics covered in the course that can supplement and extend understanding. Registration is free and can be accessed via edX.org.

See Knowledge Making in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences site for exemplar assignments, peer mentors and other resources. (Link on Blackboard, under 'Course Help')

Library Subject Guide: https://guides.library.uq.edu.au/philosophy

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

• Student Code of Conduct Policy
• Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
• Assessment Procedure
• Examinations Procedure
• Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.