PHIL10003 Philosophy: The Great Thinkers
University of Melbourne · Level 1 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- Final exam 50%
- About 3 class hours a week
Is PHIL10003 hard?
PHIL10003: About average. Makes it easier: First-year subject. No student reviews yet — based on the Handbook only.
What you learn
Big questions about the self, truth and goodness, explored through great thinkers from different times and cultures.
After it you can
- Explain classic positions on core philosophical questions
- Read and interpret historical philosophy texts
- Build and assess philosophical arguments
What you need first
None
What it leads to
How it’s assessed
Reports and essays 50%, Final exam 50%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 5 students on StudentVIP (2018–2025)
- A broad tour of philosophers with a different lecturer each week; 2025 reviewers found it beginner-friendly and preferred it to the other first-year philosophy subject.
- In 2019 the texts (such as Descartes and Kant) were found hard to grasp, making the essays tougher than in first semester.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate PHIL10003
Quick answers
- When is PHIL10003 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 2.
- What do I need before taking PHIL10003?
- No prerequisites.
- Does PHIL10003 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 50% of the mark. Assessment: Reports and essays 50%, Final exam 50%.
- Is PHIL10003 hard?
- From 5 student reviews on StudentVIP: A broad tour of philosophers with a different lecturer each week; 2025 reviewers found it beginner-friendly and preferred it to the other first-year philosophy subject.
- What do students say about PHIL10003?
- A broad tour of philosophers with a different lecturer each week; 2025 reviewers found it beginner-friendly and preferred it to the other first-year philosophy subject. In 2019 the texts (such as Descartes and Kant) were found hard to grasp, making the essays tougher than in first semester.
- How many class hours a week does PHIL10003 have?
- 3 h a week in class
- Can I take PHIL10003 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Biomedicine, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Science.
- What can I take after PHIL10003?
- 1 subjects need it first, for example PHIL30007.
- Can I rate PHIL10003?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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