The Politics of Knowledge and Ignorance
| Module title | The Politics of Knowledge and Ignorance |
|---|---|
| Module code | POC3137 |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 15 |
| Module staff | Dr Karen Scott (Lecturer) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 11 |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 25 |
|---|
Module description
Can someone give informed consent to sex if they don’t know much about sex? Should university lecturers be impartial? When is ignorance a defence for wrong doing? What sort of intelligence could governments justifiably keep secret? What is the moral limit to freedom of information? What is the relationship between knowledge, evidence and truth? When does knowledge turn into injustice? What do we need to unlearn? Is knowing only about cognition? Taking Foucault as a starting point, this highly interactive module provides a critical introduction to knowledge theories applied to contemporary issues. Most political issues often have some form of knowledge controversy at the core or are contingent on the legitimation of certain knowledge. In our contemporary world knowledge is increasingly commodified (knowledge economies), explicitly challenged (‘fake news’/’alternative facts’), as a focus for fighting injustice (decolonising campaigns in universities) or assumed (criticisms of the #MeToo movement). All students will come to this from different places and everyone’s contribution will be respected. You will be guided to develop your own interests, leading to your assessment, an original ‘knowledge project’ based on a contemporary issue of concern.
Module aims - intentions of the module
To introduce students to key theories of knowledge and how they relate to core political concepts, approaches and debates in the contemporary world.
To enable students to apply these different theoretical/analytical lenses to political issues of interest to them.
To provide students with a challenging provocation about their own assumptions of knowledge
To support students to develop their original proposal.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Demonstrate knowledge of theoretical work in knowledge politics and critical debates inherent
- 2. Apply theory to critically analyse contemporary examples of knowledge politics
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 3. Critically analyse theoretical and empirical materials using appropriate theoretical concepts and frameworks.
- 4. Define complex political problems and identify their relative significance.
- 5. Exercise informed judgement concerning the practical implications of different standpoints
- 6. Locate arguments within their historical contexts.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 7. Construct a reasoned and logical argument through well-structured speech and writing
- 8. Communicate effectively through well-structured speech and writing.
- 9. Work independently and with peers to achieve common goals.
Syllabus plan
Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover at least some of the following topics:
- Theories of knowledge, discourse and power
- Epistemological injustice
- Self-knowledge and sexual politics
- Knowledge economies - ownership and commodification of knowledge
- Government and secrets / freedom of information
- Knowledge and evidence in policy making and political life
- Environmental knowledges and controversies
- Dissertation proposal development
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 22 | 128 | 0 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching activity | 22 | 11 x 2 hour weekly seminars |
| Guided independent study | 128 | Reading assignments 58 hours Formative assessment preparation 10 hours Presentation preparation 20 hours Critical Knowledge Project 40 hour |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Critical Review | 1000 words | 1-9 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge Project | 100 | 2750 | 1-9 | Written |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knowledge Project | Written 2750 words | 1-9 | August/September re-assessment period |
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Power/Knowledge. Selected writings by Michel Foucault Edited by Colin Gordon
The Politics of Knowledge. Edited by Fernando Domínguez Rubio and Patrick Baert
Epistemic injustice: Power and the ethics of knowing. Miranda Fricker
The Epistemology of Resistance. /Jose Medina
- On Colonial Unknowing. Ed Manu Vimalassery et al. Special issue of Theory & Event20 (4) 2017
Decolonisation of Universities: the Politics of Knowledge. Edited by Jonathan D. Jansen
The Politics of Sex Amia Srinivasan
| Credit value | 15 |
|---|---|
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 6 |
| Available as distance learning? | No |
| Origin date | 31/03/2022 |
| Last revision date | 31/03/2022 |
