Overview

This module invites students to explore the powerful relationship between philosophy and mythology, uncovering how mythological narratives have served as a medium for philosophical speculation and ethical reflection throughout history. You will learn to read myths not just as stories, but as rich sources of philosophical insight, identifying the deeper truths they convey about the human condition, morality, and the nature of existence. Throughout the course, you’ll learn to read myths in a way that reveals the deeper philosophical truths they communicate—truths about heroism, fate, justice, and the human condition. By examining myths from a range of cultures and time periods, you’ll discover how these stories have shaped societies, influenced cultural values, and altered the way humans have approached fundamental questions of life and death, good and evil, and right and wrong. In the modern world, mythology continues to evolve, and you will explore how contemporary mythological figures, such as Batman, serve as modern-day vessels for philosophical communication. The course will examine how comic books offer a rich space for philosophical inquiry, using the battles between Batman and the Joker as a framework to explore the moral tensions between normative ethics and existentialism. Through this analysis, you will gain a deeper understanding of how these modern myths challenge our conceptions of morality and choice. This module offers students the opportunity to return to one of the oldest and most powerful forms of philosophical communication—myth. By unpacking these narratives, you’ll explore how myths have inspired reflection, challenged worldviews, and led to shifts in thinking across generations.

This module will examine how mythological narratives communicate philosophical and ethical ideas, questioning whether mythology can be considered a form of philosophical discourse. As the course develops, we will begin to examine the relationship between mythology and culture, exploring how mythology has helped to establish cultural and social norms in a range of Indian, African and European societies. In this way we shall explore how mythology has shaped the way humanity understands a range of themes, such a death, war, gender and sexuality, analysing whether ancient narratives still shape the way we understand these themes today. The final weeks of the course will question whether humanity is now seeking new myths to help understand the moral dilemmas of the 21st century.

Assessment Strategy

-threshold -D- - D +. Submitted work is adequate and shows an acceptable level of competence as follows: •Generally accurate but with omissions and errors. •Assertions are made without clear supporting evidence or reasoning. •Has structure but is lacking in clarity and therefore relies on the reader to make links and assumptions. •Draws on a relatively narrow range of material.

-good -B- - B+. Submitted work is competent throughout and distinguished by superior style, approach and choice of supporting materials. It demonstrates: •Very good structure and logically developed arguments. • Draws on material that has been sourced and assessed as a result of independent study, or in a way unique to the student. • Assertions are backed by evidence and sound reasoning. • Accuracy and presentation in an appropriate academic style.

-excellent -A - - A*. Submitted work is of an outstanding quality and excellent in one or more of the following ways: •Has originality of exposition with the student’s own thinking being readily apparent. •Provides clear evidence of extensive and relevant independent study.  •Arguments are laid down with clarity and provide the reader with successive stages of consideration to reach conclusions.

-another level-Good C- - C +. Submitted work is competent throughout and occasionally distinguished by superior style, approach and choice of supporting materials. It demonstrates: • Good structure and logically developed arguments. • At least in parts draws on material that has been sourced and assessed as a result of independent study, or in a way unique to the student. • Assertions are, in the main, backed by evidence and sound reasoning. • Accuracy and presentation in an appropriate academic style.

Learning Outcomes

• • To critically analyse different genres of mythology and critically evaluate how these genres are explored with contemporary society.

• • To critically analyse the diverse and shifting nature of mythology and how myths develop to meet the needs of specific groups in particular cultural and historical contexts.

• • To recognise the historical, social and philosophical factors that led to the development of some of the major mythological narratives.