Prof. J. McKenzie Alexander, LAK 5.01

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Philosophy of the Social Sciences. This course is not available as an outside option.

The course is intended to develop the ability to make philosophical arguments and to write structured philosophical essays. It will serve to prepare students for research and writing their dissertation.  In Michaelmas term, the first few meetings will cover philosophical and argumentative writing, with a number of in-class exercises. Then we will discuss the structure and content of an MSc dissertation in Philosophy and the grading rubric used for marking dissertations. The remainder of Michaelmas term will cover possible thesis topics in the philosophy of social science, with group presentations.  In Lent term, seminars will cover topics that are chosen by MSc students for their theses.

10 hours of seminars in the MT. 20 hours of seminars in the LT.

A number of assignments whose completion will aid the writing of the dissertation will be set over the course of MT and LT.

This course is not assessed.