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PH404T: DEMOCRACY & LEGITIMACY (2022-2023)

Last modified: 04 Oct 2022 12:51


Course Overview

Governments exercise a significant degree of coercive power over people. They shape the terms of our social and political coexistence, and, through their decisions, they have the capacity to restrict our freedoms and impinge on our autonomy. Faced with the question of what (if anything) could legitimize such coercion in the first place, it is commonly held that a government’s exercise of political authority is legitimate only insofar as it is democratic. That is, only if it is somehow authorized by the people. But what, if anything, makes democracy so special and uniquely justified or valuable? What kind of values does democracy embody or realize? Are there legitimate alternatives to democracy? What are the limits of democratic authority? The course will deal with these fundamental questions first by providing students with a broad overview of the problem of political legitimacy and of some attempts at solving it. The course will then focus on the problem of democratic legitimacy. It will present students with the main accounts of democratic legitimacy developed in the current literature, as well as with recent philosophical and political criticisms of democracy.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 4
Term First Term Credit Points 30 credits (15 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Michele Giavazzi

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Either Programme Level 4 or Programme Level 5
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

Governments exercise a significant degree of coercive power over people. They shape the terms of our social and political coexistence, and, through their decisions, they have the capacity to restrict our freedoms and impinge on our autonomy. Faced with the question of what (if anything) could legitimize such coercion in the first place, it is commonly held that a government’s exercise of political authority is legitimate only insofar as it is democratic. That is, only if it is somehow authorized by the people. But what, if anything, makes democracy so special and uniquely justified or valuable? What kind of values does democracy embody or realize? What are the limits of democratic authority? Are there legitimate alternatives to democracy? The course will deal with these fundamental questions first by providing students with a broad overview of the problem of political legitimacy and of some attempts at solving it. The course will then focus on the problem of democratic legitimacy. It will present students with the main accounts of democratic legitimacy developed in the current literature, as well as with recent philosophical and political criticisms of democracy.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen’s SafeAssign system.

Word Count 3500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseDevelop an autonomous analysis of the philosophical literature relevant to democracy
ConceptualUnderstandAcquire and demonstrate knowledge of democratic theory and its challenges
ProceduralCreateLearn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers.
ProceduralEvaluateDevelop critical thinking skills and ability to assess political issues through philosophical lenses, as well as willingness to question and discuss one’s own political assumptions and commitments.
ReflectionCreateDevelop proficiency in written and oral communication skills.

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen’s SafeAssign system.

Word Count 3500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualAnalyseDevelop an autonomous analysis of the philosophical literature relevant to democracy
ConceptualUnderstandAcquire and demonstrate knowledge of democratic theory and its challenges
ProceduralCreateLearn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers.
ProceduralEvaluateDevelop critical thinking skills and ability to assess political issues through philosophical lenses, as well as willingness to question and discuss one’s own political assumptions and commitments.
ReflectionCreateDevelop proficiency in written and oral communication skills.

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 100
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen’s SafeAssign system.

Word Count 3500
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandAcquire and demonstrate knowledge of democratic theory and its challenges
ConceptualAnalyseDevelop an autonomous analysis of the philosophical literature relevant to democracy
ProceduralEvaluateDevelop critical thinking skills and ability to assess political issues through philosophical lenses, as well as willingness to question and discuss one’s own political assumptions and commitments.
ProceduralCreateLearn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers.
ReflectionCreateDevelop proficiency in written and oral communication skills.

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