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Problems and Texts in Social and Political Thought

Module description

This module is part of the core for MA programmes in the History of Political Thought, Modern Continental Political Thought, and Social and Political Thought, but it is also open to other students on related philosophy and other MA programmes. It will be run in conjunction with the Political Theory Reading Group, a postgraduate and faculty research seminar series in the Politics Department, and it will allow some freedom for MA students to shape the content of the reading group with the agreement of the reading group organizers. Its aims are: to familiarise postgraduate students with some key texts and topics in social and political philosophy and cognate philosophical disciplines; to develop analytical skills by close reading of texts; to expose students to a variety of approaches and methodological positions in theoretical and philosophical disciplines; and to promote interdisciplinarity.It will also aim to help students to select the topic for their final dissertation and equip them with the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to carry out an independent piece of research.

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module is part of the core for MA programmes in the History of Political Thought, Modern Continental Political Thought, and Social and Political Thought, but it is also open to other students on related philosophy and other MA programmes. It will be run in conjunction with the Political Theory Reading Group, a postgraduate and faculty research seminar series in the Politics Department, and it will allow some freedom for MA students to shape the content of the reading group with the agreement of the reading group organizers. Its aims are: to familiarise postgraduate students with some key texts and topics in social and political philosophy and cognate philosophical disciplines; to develop analytical skills by close reading of texts; to expose students to a variety of approaches and methodological positions in theoretical and philosophical disciplines; and to promote interdisciplinarity.It will also aim to help students to select the topic for their final dissertation and equip them with the skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to carry out an independent piece of research.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Critically analyse arguments by reading and discussing key texts in seminars;
• 2. Present concisely sophisticated arguments;
• 3. Explain difficult points to an audience also of non specialists;
• 4. Identify key aspects of a philosophical and theoretical debate.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 5. Analyse arguments;
• 6. Criticise texts
• 7. Introduce discussions,
• 8. Write well-argued essays, and question received ideas.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 9. Construct and evaluate ideas,
• 10. Formulate and express ideas at different levels of abstraction,
• 11. Assess and criticise the views of others and to undertake an individual research project.

Syllabus plan

The module will engage with some of the 'foundational texts' covered in the core modules of the relevant MA. It will also involve reading a wider variety of texts in philosophy and social and political theory, exploring the interconnection between different philosophical fields and different philosophical approaches. The selection of texts and topics for the Reading Group meetings will be student-led. Students will also be supervised for the selection of the topic of their dissertation.

A series of two-hour seminars, also with the participation of staff, research students, and students from others MAs, introduced by the students taking the Ma Programmes in Political Theory. A series of preparatory classes to select the topics for presentation and the topic for the final dissertation.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

This will depend on the texts selected by the students for presentation; and by the topics students will choose for their final dissertation. Staff will guide individual students in the preparation of a basic reading list for the chosen topics and/or texts.

Key words search

Topics Texts Social Political Thought