Honours in Philosophy

The entry requirement for this program is at least 60% in a first degree with Philosophy as a major.  This course consists of four sections, each contributing 25%.

Full-time students do two sections per semester and part-time students one section per semester.

The department sets out criteria for selection annually.

You need permission from the department to enroll for the honours programme.

Section 1 (Research and contemporary philosophy)

This course focuses on philosophical research. The unique nature of philosophical research, as well as other philosophical research skills, such as systematic, logical argumentation, the creative design of own views, and the ability to construct theories, will be acquired by writing essays on the central themes covered by the contemporary philosophical texts.

Section 2 (Feminist theory and ethics)

This course offers an in-depth introduction to, and overview of, the most important feminist streams of thought. In this course, we will look at feminist philosophy, methodology, epistemology and ethics. Feminist analytical techniques will be learnt, so that you will, by the end of the course, be able to execute feminist or gender sensitive readings of texts, such as narratives and policy documents.

Section 3 (Ethics)

This module commences with a brief introduction to some of the profound questions in moral philosophy. Various reactions to the crisis sparked in ethics by modernist ethics are then examined in depth. These include Alisdair MacIntyre's attempt to restore the Aristotelian tradition in ethics and Charles Taylor's effort to retrieve an Ethic of Authenticity. Finally the critique on such attempts by post-modern thinkers, like Jean-Francois Lyotard and  Emmanuel Levinas is  considered.Lecturer:   Prof GJ Rossouw

Section 4 (Aesthetics)

Review of premodern, modern and postmodern aesthetics, with special emphasis on the transition from beauty to the sublime as major focus of aesthetics. David Hume, Immanuel Kant, Theodor Adorno, Jean-Francois Lyotard.

Lecturer:   Prof JJ Snyman

Master's in Philosophy

The entry requirement for this programme is at least 60% in a honours degree in Philosophy. 

Dissertation

A dissertation on a topic selected in consultation with the department must be completed under the supervision of a lecturer in the department.  Ac complete research proposal must be presented for discussion and approval at a departmental meeting. 

You need permission from the department to enroll for the masters programme.

M Phil (Ethics)

The M Phil (Ethics) course is designed to enable persons within private and public organisations to deal with the ethical dimension of their work.

Persons with at least 2 years work experience and an honours or four-year degree equivalent to an honours degree in any discipline can apply for this two year part-time course.

The course is ideally suited for persons:

wishing to equip themselves to deal with the ethical dimension of their work,

• pursuing a career opportunity related to the management of ethics (e.g. ethics officer, ethics custodian, ethics auditor),

• ïdesiring to enrich themselves intellectually and morally within their existing work roles.

Course outline

The course consists of four sections. Modules.  Modules 1 and 2 are completed in the first year whilst Modules 3 and 4 are completed in the second year. 

MODULE 1: HISTORY OF ETHICS

Discover how very novel and innovative some of our moral notions are in their original context: the Ancients (Plato and Aristotle), the Moderns (Kant, Marx, Mill), the Postmoderns (Habermas and Levinas). Notions such as the ideal good, virtue and friendship are explored and compared to duties, the greatest good and the good according to a social class, the good as communication free from coercion and the face of the other as icon of the good.

MODULE 2: BUSINESS ETHICS

Learners will be introduced to basic concepts and relevant theories in the field of business ethics. Armoured with these intellectual tools we will then critically explore recent conceptions of the role of business in society. Various moral dilemmas that organisations inevitably have to face will be unpacked. This will lead us into the terrain of moral decision-making and strategies for dealing with moral dilemmas. Finally the quest for moral standards on a global and diverse economic landscape will be critically investigated.

MODULE 3: GENDER AND RACE at WORK

In this course we will follow a critical race and gender theory approach. We look at ways in which difference and identity are constructed, deconstructed and reconstructed with regard to race and gender, and to some extent also class.  Different sexual identities as well as their stereotypical representations will be analysed, including femininity and masculinity, and gay and lesbian identities, as well as how they inter-link with race and class.  The 'difference and equality' debate within the critical social sciences will frame our analysis of the South African workplace. 

MODULE 4: JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY AT WORK

In the first part of this course learners will discuss different conceptions of justice and democracy to enable them to develop an independent view of each.  In the second part of the course conceptions of justice and democracy are applied to a variety of case studies drawn from the workplace.  Learners will be encouraged to present cases from their own experience.  They will have to demonstrate the value of their conceptions of a democracy through applying them to at least three case studies.

Course format

Within each module there are a minimum of two-contact session of two days each (on Fridays and Saturdays). 

A research essay relevant to your work experience is required within each of the four modules.

Study guides are available on-line and assignments can be submitted on-line as well.

Doctoral degree

The entry requirement for this degree is at least 60% in a Masters degree in Philosophy.  A thesis is completed on a topic chosen in consultation with the chairperson of the department and written under the supervision of a lecturer.  Four seminars and a doctoral examination are required in accordance with the general regulations of the Faculty of Arts.

In order to be accepted for the Doctoral study, the student must show proof of accomplishment concerning research methodology and the History of Philosophy.  Supplementary oral examinations might be required.

You need permission from the department to enroll for the doctoral programme. Closing date for applications is 15 October.

Application forms available at:   http: //www.uj.ac.za/

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