PP1ML: The Meaning of Life

Module code: PP1ML

Module provider: Philosophy; School of Philosophy, Politics and Economics

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Dr George Mason, email: g.p.mason@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: Yes

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 23 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

What is the meaning of life? This is perhaps the most important philosophical question we can ask. What is the answer? Indeed, what is the question really asking? In this module, we seek the answers. Along the way, we will consider a series of fascinating questions which promise to enlighten our understanding of ourselves and our place in the world. What makes life worth living? Is there any reason to fear death? Could life in artificial reality be better or more fulfilling than life in the real world? 

Students will gain an understanding of different perspectives on the meaning of life. A mix of lectures, class discussions, online content, assignments, feedback and structured reading will be used to enable you to reflectively and critically engage with these perspectives. 

In discussions and in your assignments, you will have the chance to develop, explain and defend your own understanding of the meaning of life. The ideas you engage with on this course provide an excellent introduction to many foundational issues across many topics in philosophy, as they include important topics in Ethics, Biomedical Ethics, Philosophy of Religion, Political Philosophy, and many others. Moreover, the ideas you engage with in this course, and the reflective and critical thinking skills you develop in the process, will be important not just in your other modules, but throughout the rest of your life! 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Understand a variety of perspectives on the meaning of life, including perspectives from outside of philosophy and from different philosophical traditions. 
2. Understand a number of foundational topics in philosophy and particularly value theory. 
3. Be able to identify and critically engage with different perspectives on the meaning of life. 
4. Have developed your ability to organize material and articulate arguments effectively, both orally and in writing. 
5. Have developed your ability to work effectively in groups to research and present collective findings using appropriate technologies. 

Module content

This module addresses the issue of the meaning of life from several different perspectives. We will begin by considering some of the different ways we might interpret the question before moving on to consider a series of answers. Much of the discussion will be grounded in real world examples and ‘thought experiments’, focusing on questions such as whether death is bad and whether pleasure is the only thing that makes a life go well. 

The module also aims to: 

• Develop critical and reflective thinking skills. 
• Develop independent study skills such as use and selection of sources. 
• Develop an awareness of virtues of collaborating across disciplinary boundaries through encountering the ways that philosophical ideas play a role in many areas such as psychology and medicine, and the ways that input from other fields can help us make progress in answering philosophical questions. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Each week, there will be a two-hour lecture and a one-hour seminar. The lecture will primarily consist of a presentation from the module convenor, but may also include other activities such as quizzes, surveys, open discussion, and group work. The seminars will primarily involve group-led discussion based upon the required and further readings and any further materials provided in the seminar or lecture. Students may be expected to provide an oral presentation in the seminars.Weekly readings will be assigned-these will be of a manageable length and students are expected to have read them before the seminar. 

Study hours

At least 30 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Active participation in class discussion, small group work, online activities such as quizzes and mentimeter. Pre-submission feedback on their written assignment in the week before submission. Students will be able to receive feedback on their essay plan. 

Reassessment

Additional costs