ATS1057 Introduction to Philosophy: The meaning of life
Faculty of Arts
ATS1057 Introduction to Philosophy: The meaning of life is a level 1, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Arts, offered in 2025 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Caulfield and Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- Caulfield, Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 7 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Overview
This unit is an introduction to moral philosophy. You will explore the meaningfulness of human life. We will examine questions such as: What makes life meaningful? Even if there is no big meaning of life, can we locate meaning in our purposeful activities in the world? Must a meaningful life be a moral life, and what does a moral life involve? Topics covered may include the value of loving relationships, of working life, and of personal integrity. You will also develop philosophical skills of analysis, argument, and criticism.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Caulfield | On campus |
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
| Second semester | Clayton | Flexible |
Assessment
- QuizzesQuiz / Test8%
- Analytical ExerciseExercise16%
- EssayWritten36%
- ReflectionWritten4%
- Take Home Final AssessmentWritten36%
- ReflectionWritten10%
- Take Home Final AssessmentWritten30%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
identify and understand some main theories in moral philosophy;
- 2
discuss some main approaches to conceptualising life's meaning, and analyse their underlying philosophical structure;
- 3
apply critical reasoning skills to philosophical and moral arguments;
- 4
communicate philosophical and moral arguments orally and in writing.
Workload and teaching
- Lectures10 hours
- Tutorials24 hours
- Workshops2 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.
This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
Where it fits
ATS1057 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2025 handbook.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Sandra Field
- Dr Simon Duffy
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Sandra Field
- Dr Suzanne Killmister
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ATS1057?
ATS1057 has no prerequisites.
When is ATS1057 offered?
In 2025, ATS1057 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Caulfield and Clayton.
How much work is ATS1057?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ATS1057 have an exam?
No. ATS1057 has 7 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include ATS1057?
ATS1057 is part of Philosophy.