Last modified: 12 Aug 2024 15:46
What, if anything, makes states legitimate? What kind of freedom should political authorities respect and promote? Is democracy really the best form of government? How, if at all, should states respond to inequality? In this course, we will explore central questions in Western political philosophy. Topics we may cover include state legitimacy, racial injustice, liberty, democracy, distributive justice, and equality. Readings will include a balance of historical and contemporary texts.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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Why do many of us think that it is acceptable for states to make laws and coercively enforce them? How should we conceptualise political freedom? Given the flaws with electoral representative democracy, is it really the best practicable form of government? Should states redistribute wealth from the affluent to those who are less wealthy?
These are examples of central questions in Western political philosophy, which will be our object of study in this course. Example topics we may cover include: state legitimacy, racial injustice, liberty, democracy, distributive justice, and equality. Readings will include both historical and contemporary texts.
Throughout the course, students will be encouraged to think deeply, discuss complex and sometimes sensitive political topics openly and charitably, and explore their own views about the meaning of political concepts and how our political institutions and political life should be structured.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 45 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Feedback provided through MyAberdeen |
Word Count | 1500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire an understanding of the philosophical literature relevant to the topics |
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of the subject areas |
| Procedural | Create | Learn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Develop critical thinking skills |
| Reflection | Create | Develop proficiency in written and oral communication skills |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 28,29,30,31,32,34,38,39,40,41 | Feedback Weeks | 29,30,31,32,33,34,35,39,40,41,42 | |
| Feedback |
10 multiple-choice quizzes, to be completed ahead of the tutorial on that topic. Feedback provided through MyAberdeen |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire an understanding of the philosophical literature relevant to the topics |
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of the subject areas |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 45 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Take-home exam with one week to complete. The exam will include two short essay prompts, one of which will be comparative. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire an understanding of the philosophical literature relevant to the topics |
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of the subject areas |
| Procedural | Create | Learn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Develop critical thinking skills |
| Reflection | Create | Develop proficiency in written and oral communication skills |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Feedback provided via Panopto videos |
Word Count | 2000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire and demonstrate knowledge of the subject areas |
| Procedural | Create | Learn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers |
| Reflection | Create | Develop proficiency in written and oral communication skills |
| Procedural | Evaluate | Develop critical thinking skills |
| Conceptual | Understand | Acquire an understanding of the philosophical literature relevant to the topics |
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