Unit Outline

Life is filled with philosophical questions, but we rarely get the chance to slow down and think them through. This unit gives you that opportunity. In this introductory unit you will take a philosophical lens to examine contemporary issues in politics, science, and society. You may explore topics such as climate change, the status of scientific knowledge, what a ‘just’ society looks like, and the impact on society of AI and social media. These real-world challenges will serve as entry points into key philosophical concepts, principles, and methods relating to sub disciplines such as social and political philosophy and the philosophy of science .

Philosophy is not just something you learn—it’s something you do. In this unit, you will develop foundational skills in critical reflection, argument analysis, and clear communication. You will learn to ask thoughtful questions, evaluate competing perspectives, and articulate ethically informed positions. No prior experience in philosophy is required, and the unit is designed to stand alone or complement its companion unit. For details on the specific themes covered each semester, please refer to the unit outline (available online shortly before semester begins).

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Recognise and describe key philosophical concepts related to politics, science, and society.
2	Analyse and evaluate basic philosophical arguments in contemporary debates.
3	Express philosophical ideas in written and spoken formats.
4	Engage in respectful dialogue with a range of viewpoints

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Reflection	Refer to Assessment Description	15 %	LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Participation	Refer to Assessment Description	20 %	LO1, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Essay	Refer to Assessment Description	35 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Take-Home Exam	Exam Period	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Reflection

Task Description:

For a full description of this task, including the due dates and times, see assessment information in MyLO. Note that the order of the assessment tasks listed in this unit outline does not necessarily reflect the order in which the assessments are due.

Task Length:

500 Words

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analysis	LO2
2	Clarity of expression and structure	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Participation

Task Description:

Task Length:

Ongoing contributions throughout semester

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate knowledge of philosophical concepts, principles, and methods.	LO1
2	Engage in respectful dialogue with a range of viewpoints.	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Essay

Task Description:

Task Length:

1500 Words

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Comprehension of the relevant philosophical positions	LO1
2	Critical Analysis	LO2
3	Academic Writing	LO3
4	Development of your own position	LO4

Assessment Task 4: Take-Home Exam

Task Description:

Task Length:

1000 Words

Due Date:

Exam Period

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Comprehension of philosophical positions	LO1
2	Critical Analysis	LO2
3	Academic Writing	LO3
4	Development of your own position	LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.