Last modified: 23 Feb 2023 13:51
Debates about living together in diverse societies often include questions about race, religion and secularism. Should religion and politics be separated? Do we need a shared national culture? How do we prevent exclusion based on race or religion? In the first half of the course, we interrogate the history and contemporary meaning of ‘race’, ‘religion’ and ‘the secular’. In the second half, we turn to how these concepts are used in contemporary debates in political philosophy, for example on multiculturalism, integration, religion in the public sphere, and Islamophobia.
The content and discussion in this course will regularly cover themes of racism, racial injustices and religious bigotry. This content may be difficult to deal with for some members of the course, but we are keen for everyone to engage. The classroom will be made a space to engage sensitively and empathetically with this content and any potentially extra sensitive content will be warned about in advance.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 30 credits (15 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
| Co-ordinators |
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In political debates about living together in a diverse society, the concepts of ‘race’, ‘religion’ and ‘secularism’ often play a central role. Should there be a separation of religion and politics in order to ensure state neutrality? Do we need a shared national culture, and if so, what does that entail? How do we protect against exclusion based on race or religion? In many of these debates, the meaning of central concepts often remains implicit or unclear, which can have significant political consequences. This course will provide students with a toolkit to better understand and evaluate such issues. In the first half of the course, we interrogate the essentially contested concepts of ‘race’, ‘religion’ and ‘the secular’. What is the history of these concepts? Is there a consensus on their meaning? Does this meaning fit the lived experience of some groups more than others? In the second half of the course we turn to how these concepts are used in contemporary debates in political philosophy. We will look at questions around multiculturalism, integration, religion in the public sphere, Islamophobia and antisemitism, among others. In doing so, we will engage with a broad variety of texts from liberal political philosophy as well as postcolonial theory, critical race theory, and critical secularism studies.
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 31 | Feedback Weeks | 34 | |
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen’s SafeAssign system. |
Word Count | 2000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Analyse | Students can outline historical and contemporary use of the key concepts of the course (race, religion and secularism) in academic and societal debate |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Students can reflect on the different philosophical and political considerations involved in deploying the key concepts of the course (race, religion and secularism) in academic and societal debate. |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | 39 | Feedback Weeks | 42 | |
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen’s SafeAssign system. |
Word Count | 3000 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Evaluate | Students can critique central arguments in contemporary political philosophy relevant to race, religion and secularism. |
| Reflection | Analyse | Students can deconstruct central debates in contemporary political philosophy relevant to race, religion and secularism. |
There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided via MyAberdeen’s SafeAssign system |
Word Count | 2500 | |
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
|
|
||
| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Procedural | Evaluate | Students can critique central arguments in contemporary political philosophy relevant to race, religion and secularism. |
| Conceptual | Analyse | Students can outline historical and contemporary use of the key concepts of the course (race, religion and secularism) in academic and societal debate |
| Reflection | Evaluate | Students can reflect on the different philosophical and political considerations involved in deploying the key concepts of the course (race, religion and secularism) in academic and societal debate. |
| Reflection | Analyse | Students can deconstruct central debates in contemporary political philosophy relevant to race, religion and secularism. |
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