Module PHIL2081: Political Philosophy

Department: Philosophy

PHIL2081: Political Philosophy

Prerequisites

• At least one 'Year 1' module in Philosophy; PHIL1011 Ethics and Values, PHIL1021 Knowledge, Minds and Reality; PHIL1041 Reading Philosophy, PHIL1091 The Philosophical Traditions, PHIL1101 Being Human: An Introduction to Post Kantian Philosophy; PHIL1111 Science, Medicine and Society.

Corequisites

• None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None.

Aims

• To introduce - and to assess answers to - major philosophical questions concerning political life, its structure and organisation.

Content

• The core themes of the module, at least two of which will be covered in any given year, are:
• Core Political Philosophy. For example: What, if anything, explains State Legitimacy?; Liberalism, its Varieties and Discontents; Democracy and Democratic Theory
• Topic (s) in Contemporary Political Philosophy. For example: Justice and Equality; Global Justice and Sovereignty; Political Philosophy in the Context of Climate Change; Political Philosophy of Immigration; Human Rights; Law and Political Philosophy; Political Philosophy and the Market; Conservatism.
• The History of Political Philosophy. For example: Key figure(s) or texts from the History of Political Philosophy.

Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the module, students should be able to demonstrate both knowledge and critical understanding of :
• Some key issues in contemporary analytical political philosophy, and
• The philosophical implications of some modern political issues.

• grasp, analyse, evaluate and deploy subject-specific concepts and arguments
• locate, understand, assess and utilise pertinent philosophical sources (and, where appropriate, sources from other relevant disciplines, such as history, political theory and sociology).

• express themselves clearly and succinctly in writing
• comprehend complex ideas, propositions and theories
• defend their opinions by reasoned argument
• seek out and identify appropriate sources of evidence and information
• tackle problems in a clear-sighted and logical fashion.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures deliver basic module-specific information, and provide a framework for further study.
• Discussion classes provide opportunities for students to test their own understanding of the material studies, and defend and debate different opinions.
• Guided reading provides a structure within which students exercise and extend their abilities to make use of available learning resources.
• The formative assessment provides an opportunity for students to test their knowledge and understanding of the module content, and their ability to present and defend relevant arguments and theories, uninhibited by the need for summative assessment.
• The summative assessment tests students' overall knowledge and understanding of the module content, and their ability to bring it to bear on new problems.
• Lectures will be recorded, unless the lecturer judges that lecture capture is inappropriate, in line with the official university lecture capture policy.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment:

There will be an opportunity for formative feedback via a light-touch formative assessment.

■ Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University.