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PH201C: POLITICAL PHILOSOPHY (2022-2023)

Last modified: 04 Oct 2022 13:00


Course Overview

What (if any) forms of government are legitimate? What, if anything, grants legitimacy to the state to limit the freedoms of its citizens through its laws? What makes tyranny worse than democracy? Is our current system of government indeed the best possible one, or are there better alternatives?

This course addresses questions in political philosophy and explores central concepts such as freedom, equality and democracy by providing students with a (non-exhaustive) overview of key theories and principles in political philosophy. The course will encourage students to apply these theories to contemporary concrete political issues and problems. Topics to be examined may include: ancient Greek democracy, tyranny, social contract theory, liberalism, Marxism, libertarianism, feminist political philosophy, non-Western political philosophy, anarchism, and resistance.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 2
Term First Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 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 2 or Master Of Arts In Philosophy, Politics And Economics
  • 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

What (if any) forms of government are legitimate? What, if anything, grants legitimacy to the state to limit the freedoms of its citizens through its laws? What makes tyranny worse than democracy? Is our current system of government indeed the best possible one, or are there better alternatives?

This course addresses questions in political philosophy and explores central concepts such as freedom, equality and democracy by providing students with a (non-exhaustive) overview of key theories and principles in political philosophy. The course will encourage students to apply these theories to contemporary concrete political issues and problems. Topics to be examined may include: ancient Greek democracy, tyranny, social contract theory, liberalism, Marxism, libertarianism, feminist political philosophy, non-Western political philosophy, anarchism, and resistance.


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

8 online quizzes

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 10,11,12,13,14,16,17,18 Feedback Weeks 10,11,12,13,14,16,17,18

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Correct answers will be automatically made available after each quiz’s due date.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandAcquire and demonstrate knowledge of the subject areas
ConceptualUnderstandAcquire an understanding of the philosophical literature relevant to the topics

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 50
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback will be provided via Panopto videos, all made available to students on MyAberdeen. To be submitted in Week 15 or Week 19 (students can choose either submission date), with feedback 3 weeks after submission.

Word Count 2000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandAcquire and demonstrate knowledge of the subject areas
ConceptualUnderstandAcquire an understanding of the philosophical literature relevant to the topics
ProceduralCreateLearn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers
ProceduralEvaluateDevelop critical thinking skills
ReflectionCreateDevelop proficiency in written and oral communication skills

Essay

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks Feedback Weeks

Look up Week Numbers

Feedback

Feedback will be provided via Panopto videos, all made available to students on MyAberdeen. To be submitted in Week 15 or Week 19 (students can choose either submission date), with feedback 3 weeks after submission.

Word Count 1000
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
ConceptualUnderstandAcquire an understanding of the philosophical literature relevant to the topics
ConceptualUnderstandAcquire and demonstrate knowledge of the subject areas
ProceduralCreateLearn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers
ProceduralEvaluateDevelop critical thinking skills
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 provided via Panopto videos

Word Count 2000
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
ReflectionCreateDevelop proficiency in written and oral communication skills
ProceduralCreateLearn to frame arguments and to communicate arguments to a group of peers
ProceduralEvaluateDevelop critical thinking skills
ConceptualUnderstandAcquire an understanding of the philosophical literature relevant to the topics
ConceptualUnderstandAcquire and demonstrate knowledge of the subject areas

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