UNISA Philosophy Course Module 2025-2026
Major combinations:
NQF Level: 5: PLS1501, PLS1502
NQF Level: 6: PLS2601, PLS2602, PLS2607
NQF Level: 7: PLS3701, PLS3702, PLS3703, PLS3705, PLS3709,
| Critical Reasoning – PLS2601 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To acquire critical thinking, problem-solving methods and skills in argumentation by identifying fallacies and obstacles to reasoning, and by constructing, analysing and critically evaluating arguments. |
| Theoretical and Applied Ethics – PLS3701 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To foster critical and creative thinking amongst students. Qualifying students are able to think contextually, and demonstrate skills in understanding the theoretical frameworks and normative dimensions of decision making in the applied fields of bio-medical ethics, business ethics and environmental ethics. |
| Modern Philosophy – PLS3702 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: This module will be useful to students of all disciplines across all colleges who wish to advance their critical and creative thinking skills by being exposed to the period of Modernity in the history of Western intellectual thinking. Students who successfully complete this module will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to critically engage with primary and secondary Philosophical texts of major thinkers of Modernity, focusing upon the following four thematic areas: metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and political philosophy. Upon completion, the student will be able to identify the influence of Modern thinkers on the history of Philosophy and their continual role in the development of philosophical discourse. Moreover, students will be able to analyse and evaluate complex arguments posed by the thinkers they encounter, being challenged to construct counter-arguments and/or supportive arguments to these claims. |
| Advanced African Philosophy – PLS3703 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students at an advanced level to gain deeper and wider knowledge pertaining to the African experience. It will also equip students with research skills that will help them to make valuable contributions to the advancement of humankind. |
| Political Philosophy – PLS3705 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to gain a deeper and wider knowledge with regard to contemporary African political issues. It will also equip students to apply this knowledge in their independent research to a variety of themes pertaining to contemporary debates in African political philosophy. |
| Advanced Western Philosophy – PLS3709 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 7 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To explore critically the views of influential thinkers in Western cultural/social thought (including Marx and Nietzsche). |
| Research Proposal in Philosophy – HPPLS82 |
| Honours |
Year module |
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to: a) introduce students to research methods within the field of Philosophy; b) ensure that students conform to conventions of academic publishing in the field of Philosophy. c) enable students to investigate a philosophical problem which demonstrates their philosophical proficiency in terms of research. |
| Philosophy Research Report – HRPLS81 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 36 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: The purpose of this module is to provide students, under the guidance of a supervisor, with an opportunity to: a) engage in the research process with the aim of developing a research project on a topic of their own choice within the broader field of Philosophy, and (b) put into practice the cumulative process through critical thinking, scientific evaluation, linguistic skills and data collection competencies. The resultant product will be a demonstration of the student’s competence in the scientific methods of enquiry, interpretation, analysis of relevant data, critical reflection and other techniques relevant to philosophical discourse. |
| A Thorough Study of a Period in the History of Philosophy – PLS4802 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: An important characteristic of ideas is that they are not static. Every idea or system of ideas has some sort of internal logic which allows it to develop in a certain way. This development does not take place in isolation, and it is important that students of Philosophy are aware of this. In the first paper a particular period in the history of Philosophy is studied. By period is not meant a neatly delimited epoch, but rather the logical development of an idea, or system of ideas, by a number of philosophers who influenced one another in their handling of the idea or system. The topic of this paper is African philosophy. Students study the ideas of major figures in African philosophy. The content of the course for a particular year will be determined by a choice of themes, made by the Discipline for that particular year. Students are expected to locate these ideas within the history and development of African thought. |
| Trends in Contemporary Philosophy – PLS4803 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: Since postgraduate students are expected to be well acquainted with contemporary philosophical trends, this paper is a study of the basics of important streams in contemporary Philosophy. The paper consists of a survey of important contemporary trends, and an in depth study of a number of important contemporary contributions. We approach this topic via a close study of a number of important figures in twentieth century Philosophy. Students are invited to choose up to three figures for an in-depth critical appraisal. The particular philosophers presented each year will depend on which members of staff are available to teach on the course. |
| A Thorough Study of an Approved Philosophical Problem – PLS4804 |
| Honours |
|
NQF level: 8 |
Credits: 24 |
| Module presented in English |
Module presented online |
| Purpose: The ultimate aim of all philosophical study is to equip students to study philosophical problems independently. It is, therefore, essential to have clarity on the precise nature of a philosophical problem. How does such a problem arise’ In what way must it be tackled’ Answers to these questions are sought here in the light of the fundamental study of a specific philosophical problem. |
| Introduction to Western Philosophy – PLS1501 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: This module will be useful to students of all disciplines across all colleges who wish to develop their critical, creative, and logical thinking skills. Introduction to Western Philosophy exposes students to the foundations of Western intellectual history. Having mastered this module the student will be able to create a link between the influence of thinkers from the historical periods of Ancient and Mediaeval Philosophy and contemporary worldviews, as well as their continued influence on shaping these. |
| Introduction to African Philosophy – PLS1502 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 5 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To introduce students to metaphysical, epistemological, ethical and political problems in cross-cultural discourse about the nature and identity of African philosophy. |
| Human Rights, Values and Social Transformation – HRV1601 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To enable students to contribute to the development of a human rights culture, and to analyse situations in which there are tensions between human rights and cultures; interpret human rights discourse and add their own voice to it; and make ethically justifiable decisions in ambiguous situations. |
| African Ethics and Politics – PLS2602 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: This module provides students of all disciplines with knowledge of African Ethics and Political Philosophy. It aims at exploring African value systems and sharpening students` comprehension of contemporary African Ethics and Political Philosophy. Facilitating student’s aptitudes to discern the implications of African Ethics for the transformation of the post-colonial African society, and its core ethos. Through the application of the philosophical method, students will develop independent reasoning demonstrated in the explanation and defence of their positions. Students who successfully complete PLS2602 will have developed critical thinking skills, possess the competency to clarify concepts, and be able to discuss as well as analyse political and ethical problems from the perspective of the African experience. PLS2602 empowers students to apply knowledge gained to various ethical and political problems. |
| Philosophy of Science – PLS2607 |
| Under Graduate Degree |
Semester module |
NQF level: 6 |
Credits: 12 |
| Module presented in English |
|
| Purpose: To acquaint students with the nature of scientific reasoning, the status of scientific theories in terms of their relation(s) to reality, and connections between the theories and practice of science. |
