Philosophy: Big Questions

Undergraduate | 2026

Course page banner
Mode icon
Mode
Mode
Your studies will be on-campus, and may include some online delivery
On campus
area/catalogue icon
Area/Catalogue
PHIL 1001
Course ID icon
Course ID
201012
Campus icon
Campus
Adelaide City Campus East, Adelaide City Campus West, Magill
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course owner
Course owner
School of Humanities
Course coordinator
Course coordinator
Jorge Fernandez
Course level icon
Course level
1
Work Integrated Learning course
Work Integrated Learning course
No
Study abroad and student exchange icon
Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes

Course overview

This course is an overview of philosophical approaches to some of the deepest and most eternal questions confronting us: ‘What is there?’, ‘What are we?’, ‘What is a good life?’, and ‘Why are we here?’. Topics to be examined include the nature of personal identity, relativism and objectivism in ethics, the good life, and the existence of God. 

  • Meta-ethics & Value Theory: Can moral standards be true? What does a good life consist in? 
  • The Nature and Existence of God: Does God exist? Could belief in God be rational?
  • Personal Identity: What makes me the same person through time?

Course learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate a clear understanding of the main debates around personal identity, relativism vs. objectivism in ethics, the good life, and the existence of God.
  • Create and revise extended written arguments on the nature of personal identity, relativism and objectivism in ethics, the good life, and core topics in the philosophy of religion.
  • Analyse and evaluate arguments about the nature of personal identity, relativism vs. objectivism in ethics, the good life, and core topics in the philosophy of religion.
  • Reflect on philosophical problems about personal identity, relativism vs. objectivism in ethics, the good life, and core topics in the philosophy of religion and communicate thoughts and ideas about those problems effectively.

Availability

Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 27/03/2026
Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 13/03/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 10/04/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 08/05/2026

Class details

Adelaide City Campus East

Class number
Class number 28888
Section
Section TU01
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 30
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
23 Feb - 13 Apr Monday 10:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Bonython Jubilee, BJ3-34
25 Feb - 15 Apr Wednesday 9:10am - 10am Adelaide City Campus East Engineering North, N218
4 May - 1 Jun Monday 10:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Bonython Jubilee, BJ3-34
6 May - 3 Jun Wednesday 9:10am - 10am Adelaide City Campus East Engineering North, N218
Class number
Class number 28887
Section
Section TU02
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 30
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
23 Feb - 13 Apr Monday 12:10pm - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Engineering North, N218
25 Feb - 15 Apr Wednesday 10:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Engineering North, N218
4 May - 1 Jun Monday 12:10pm - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Engineering North, N218
6 May - 3 Jun Wednesday 10:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Engineering North, N218
Class number
Class number 28886
Section
Section TU03
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 30
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
23 Feb - 13 Apr Monday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Engineering North, N218
25 Feb - 15 Apr Wednesday 1:10pm - 2pm Adelaide City Campus East Playford, P4-28
4 May - 1 Jun Monday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Engineering North, N218
6 May - 3 Jun Wednesday 1:10pm - 2pm Adelaide City Campus East Playford, P4-28
Class number
Class number 28885
Section
Section TU04
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 30
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
23 Feb - 13 Apr Monday 3:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 112
25 Feb - 15 Apr Wednesday 3:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Centenary, C7-71
4 May - 1 Jun Monday 3:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 112
6 May - 3 Jun Wednesday 3:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Centenary, C7-71
Class number
Class number 28884
Section
Section TU05
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 29
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
23 Feb - 13 Apr Monday 2:10pm - 3pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 316
25 Feb - 15 Apr Wednesday 12:10pm - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Nexus10, 102
4 May - 1 Jun Monday 2:10pm - 3pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 316
6 May - 3 Jun Wednesday 12:10pm - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Nexus10, 102

Magill

Class number
Class number 28892
Section
Section TU01
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 30
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
24 Feb - 14 Apr Tuesday 1:10pm - 2pm Magill Amy Wheaton, H1-08
27 Feb - 17 Apr Friday 1:10pm - 2pm Magill Amy Wheaton, H2-05
5 May - 2 Jun Tuesday 1:10pm - 2pm Magill Amy Wheaton, H1-08
8 May - 5 Jun Friday 1:10pm - 2pm Magill Amy Wheaton, H2-05

Census date Icon
Census date
Fri 04/09/2026
Enrol by date
Enrol by date
Fri 21/08/2026
Last day to W
Last day to W
Fri 18/09/2026
Last day to WF
Last day to WF
Fri 16/10/2026

Class details

Adelaide City Campus East

Class number
Class number 58600
Section
Section TU01
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 30
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
4 Aug - 22 Sep Tuesday 10:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 316
6 Aug - 24 Sep Thursday 10:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Nexus10, UB35
13 Oct - 10 Nov Tuesday 10:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 316
15 Oct - 12 Nov Thursday 10:10am - 11am Adelaide City Campus East Nexus10, UB35
Class number
Class number 58599
Section
Section TU02
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 30
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
4 Aug - 22 Sep Tuesday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 113
6 Aug - 24 Sep Thursday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Bonython Jubilee, BJ3-34
13 Oct - 10 Nov Tuesday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 113
15 Oct - 12 Nov Thursday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Bonython Jubilee, BJ3-34
Class number
Class number 58598
Section
Section TU03
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 30
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
3 Aug - 21 Sep Monday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG23
4 Aug - 22 Sep Tuesday 2:10pm - 3pm Adelaide City Campus East Hughes, 111a
12 Oct - 9 Nov Monday 11:10am - 12pm Adelaide City Campus East Napier, LG23
13 Oct - 10 Nov Tuesday 2:10pm - 3pm Adelaide City Campus East Hughes, 111a
Class number
Class number 58597
Section
Section TU04
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 30
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
3 Aug - 21 Sep Monday 2:10pm - 3pm Adelaide City Campus East Hughes, 322
6 Aug - 24 Sep Thursday 12:10pm - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 111
12 Oct - 9 Nov Monday 2:10pm - 3pm Adelaide City Campus East Hughes, 322
15 Oct - 12 Nov Thursday 12:10pm - 1pm Adelaide City Campus East Ligertwood, 111
Class number
Class number 58596
Section
Section TU05
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 30
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
3 Aug - 21 Sep Monday 3:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Hughes, 323
6 Aug - 24 Sep Thursday 1:10pm - 2pm Adelaide City Campus East Bonython Jubilee, BJ3-54
12 Oct - 9 Nov Monday 3:10pm - 4pm Adelaide City Campus East Hughes, 323
15 Oct - 12 Nov Thursday 1:10pm - 2pm Adelaide City Campus East Bonython Jubilee, BJ3-54

Magill

Class number
Class number 58605
Section
Section TU01
Size
Size 30
Available
Available 30
Dates Days Time Campus Location Instructor
5 Aug - 23 Sep Wednesday 1:10pm - 2pm Magill Amy Wheaton, H2-03
7 Aug - 25 Sep Friday 1:10pm - 2pm Magill Building B, B2-52B
14 Oct - 11 Nov Wednesday 1:10pm - 2pm Magill Amy Wheaton, H2-03
16 Oct - 13 Nov Friday 1:10pm - 2pm Magill Building B, B2-52B

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A

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