Admission requirements
MSc International Relations and Diplomacy students.
Description
Effective altruism (EA) is an emerging social movement and broad philosophical view that uses reasoning and evidence to try to do the most good possible with limited resources. This course will critically assess the philosophical underpinnings of EA, explore popular EA topics, and provide some practical skills about how to apply EA reasoning can be used in various subject areas. It will connect EA ideas to aspects of international relations such as global poverty, global warming, nuclear weapons, and other topics. The class will provide an overview of the EA and in the process help students develop critical thinking skills.
Course Objectives
- Understand and critically evaluate the central arguments in favour of and against EA.
- Understand some basic aspects of the main topic areas in which effective altruists work.
- Develop critical thinking skills linked to EA such as how to evaluate a moral argument, do cost effectiveness comparisons, conduct Fermi estimates, and do expected value calculations.
- Improve research skills related to EA.
Timetable
On the right side of programme front page of the E-guide you will find links to the website and timetables, uSis and Brightspace.
Mode of Instruction
The course will be taught in a participatory, seminar style format. Each student is expected to have carefully read the assigned readings before each class and should be prepared to critically engage with them.
Study load: 140 hours
Assessment method
Paper: 50% of final grade
Quizzes: 25% of final grade
Reflection Journal: 25% of final grade
Attendance is mandatory
Missing more than 3 sessions will lead to a fail
Resit information for this course will be announced before the start of the course
The resit will take place 6th of June 2022.
Failed partial grades or components should be compensated by passed partial grades or components. The calculated grade must be at least 5,5 to pass the course. It is not possible to re-sit a partial grade or component once you have passed the course.
Partial grades will remain valid for one academic year.
Reading list
A selection of books and articles, to be announced on Brightspace.
Registration
Use Brightspace to register for every course. The programme will register the students in Usis based on the group division.
Contact
Eamon Aloyo e.t.aloyo@fgga.leidenuniv.nl