Understanding and Interpretation in Political Thought
| Module title | Understanding and Interpretation in Political Thought |
|---|---|
| Module code | POLM057 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Simon Townsend () |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
This module provides research training in the study of political thought by introducing you to methodological debates concerning interpretation and historical reconstruction of ideas. You will engage with key thinkers who examine the nature of interpretation, such as R.G. Collingwood, Hans-Georg Gadamer, Leo Strauss, Quentin Skinner, Michel Foucault and Paul Ricouer.
Module aims - intentions of the module
The main aim of this module is to expose you to a variety of approaches and methodological positions in the history of political and philosophical thought. It also aims familiarise you with some of the key texts and debates on the theory and nature of interpretation.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. demonstrate knowledge of the main methodological debates on questions of interpretation and historical reconstruction of ideas.
- 2. demonstrate an ability to critically analyse arguments by reading and discussing key texts in seminars and essays;
- 3. demonstrate an ability to construct sophisticated arguments in oral presentations and written work;
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. analyse political arguments;
- 5. criticise texts in political thought;
- 6. introduce discussions about the nature of political thought;
- 7. write well-argued essays and question received ideas about politics;
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 8. demonstrate abilities to construct and evaluate ideas;
- 9. formulate and express ideas at different levels of abstraction; and
- 10. assess and criticise the views of others.
Syllabus plan
This module will engage with some of the main debates on the history of ideas and political thought, the relationship between text and context, between historical reconstruction and analytic interpretation, and on the nature of interpretation.
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:
- Historical Meaning
- Intentionalism
- Feminist interpretations of texts
- Contextualism
- Standpoint epistemology
- Genealogy
- Conceptual Change
- Hermeneutics
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 278 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activity | 22 | 11 x 2 hour seminars |
| Guided independent study | 170 | Research for and writing of Essays |
| Guided independent study | 31 | Preparation for presentation |
| Guided independent study | 77 | Preparation for Seminars |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oral presentation responding to the reading | 10 minutes | 1-10 | Written |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | 50 | 3,000 words | 1-10 | Written |
| Essay 2 | 50 | 3,000 words | 1-10 | Written |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay 1 | 3,000 word essay | 1-10 | August/September reassessment period |
| Essay 2 | 3,000 word essay | 1-10 | August/September reassessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
R.G. Collingwood, The Idea of History (Oxford, 1946)
Hans-Georg Gadamer - Truth and Method (Continuum, 1989)
Quentin Skinner, Visions of Politics (Cambridge, 2002)
Michel Foucault - The Archaeology of Knowledge (Routledge, 2002)
Paul Ricoeur - Interpretation Theory (TCU Press, 1976)
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 7 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 13/03/2014 |
| Last revision date | 22/04/2022 |
