Admission requirements
Admission to this course is restricted to MA students in Philosophy 60 EC, specialisation Philosophical Perspectives on Politics and the Economy.
Description
While the world is routinely described as capitalist, capitalism has rarely been a unified concept. After the fall of communism it was sometimes claimed that ‘capitalism has won.’ And yet the meaning and merits of capitalism remain the subject of intense debate. Critics have assailed capitalism as an exploitative, wasteful, undemocratic, and morally indefensible way of organizing economic life. Whereas capitalism’s defenders maintain it to be the most dynamic, efficient, and just economic system available. There is indeed uncertainty as to whether a viable alternative to capitalism exists or can be struck.
This course explores the meaning and features of world capitalism and addresses some of the most important debates on contemporary capitalism and its future. The course furnishes an understanding of the nature of capitalism, not purely or even mainly as a set of idealized abstractions, but as a set of real world-historical phenomena and effects that generate practical and philosophical questions. Embracing a transdisciplinary approach that draws from philosophy, political economy, and relevant policy fields, this course furnishes a critical analysis of contemporary capitalism that reflects diverse intellectual, geographical, and social vantage points.
Course objectives
This course aims to provide students with a critical understanding of capitalism and its discontents.
Students who successfully complete the course will posses:
a critical understanding of world capitalism, both ideationally and in real terms;
ideas and tools for making sense of capitalism in fields that most concern them.
Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
analyze contemporary debates on capitalism from an historically informed perspective;
articulate well-reasoned positions on questions addressed in the course content.
Timetable
See: MA Philosophy 60 EC
Mode of instruction
- Seminar
Class attendance is required.
Course Load
Total course load (10 EC x 28 hrs): 280 hours
- Attending seminars: 13 × 3 hours = 39 hours
Further calculation of course load to be announced.
Assessment method
To be announced.
Blackboard
Blackboard will be used for:
To be announced.
Reading list
To be announced.
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
Remarks
Not applicable.