Studiegids

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Political Philosophy

Vak
2020-2021

Admission requirements

Admission to this course is restricted to:

  • second-year BA students Filosofie, enrolled in the BA Plus-traject

  • second-year BA students Philosophy, enrolled in the Global and Comparative Perspectives track

  • international pre-master’s students in Philosophy who are in possession of an admission statement, and for whom this course is part of their programme.

Description

This course offers an introduction to contemporary political philosophy. It examines major questions that arise with regard to the design of the political and social order addressing topics such as the nature of political authority, freedom, justice, equality, democracy, and the proper relationship of the individual to the state. Students will be encouraged to think analytically about the material, to evaluate different interpretations of core concepts, and to consider their application to concrete contexts of political action in the modern world.

Course objectives

The course aims to give students a basic grounding in contemporary political philosophy.

Students who successfully complete the course will have a good understanding of:

  • some fundamental concepts in political philosophy;

  • some of the critical problems that they raise in theory, as well as in political practice;

  • selections from works by some of the most influential twentieth and twenty-first century political theorists.

Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:

  • discuss questions of understanding and application knowledgeably and with a grasp of the complex relation between theory and practice.

Timetable

Visit MyTimetable.

Mode of instruction

  • Lectures (2 hours per week)

  • Tutorials (2 hours per week)

Class attendance is required for both lectures and tutorials.

Assessment method

Assessment

  • Midterm online examination (multiple-choice questions and open questions): 50%

  • Final online examination (multiple-choice questions and open questions): 50%

Weighting

The final mark for the course is established by determination of the weighted average of the two subtests. A subtest can be graded as unsatisfactory.

Resit

The resit consists of one written examination for all parts at once. No separate resits will be offered for subtests. The resit covers the entire course content and the mark will replace all previously earned marks for subtests.

Inspection and feedback

How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.

Reading list

  • The full reading list will be posted on Brightspace prior to the start of the course.

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available on the website

Students are strongly advised to register in uSis through the activity number which can be found in the timetables for courses and exams.

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Not applicable.

Contact

Dr. D.M. Mokrosinska Dr. J.S. Gledhill

Remarks

Not applicable.