Admission requirements
BA in Philosophy.
Description
Freedom and liberty seem almost universally desired and praised. In a world of widely diverging political philosophies this should be cause for puzzlement.
It is generally accepted that the central role of freedom has in many ways been the defining mark of modern political philosophy, apparently replacing virtuous notions of the good life associated with pre-modernity. Still, here the Roman notion of libertas, dependent on virtus, complicates things. Do people, then, simply mean different things in using the same words? Does it even make sense to use the words freedom and liberty interchangeably?
Discussion in class will revolve around three main questions: What are the main conceptions of freedom? What is their relation? What, if anything, would be the grounds for deciding between them?
Thus, understanding freedom as an essentially contested concept, we will touch on positive and negative freedom, freedom and rights, freedom and virtue, freedom and institutions, freedom and knowledge, as well as their complex interrelations.
Course objectives
Course objectives will be posted on Blackboard by the start of the course.
Timetable
See Collegeroosters Wijsbegeerte 2013-2014 , MA Philosophy 60 EC en 120 EC.
See Timetables Philosophy 2013-2014 , Timetables MA Philosophy 60 EC/120 EC
Mode of instruction
Lectures and seminars.
Course load
Total course load: 280 hours.
Attending lectures and seminars: 3 × 14 weeks = 42 hours
Time for studying the compulsory literature and for completing assignments in preparation for class: 118 hours
Time to write a papers (including reading / research final paper): 120 hours
Assessment method
Weekly assignments: reading response questions (21 %)
Two small papers of 800 words each (44 % in total)
Outlines papers (8 % in total)
Final paper of 2,500 words (25 %)
Attendance (2 %)
Blackboard
Blackboard is used to post course materials and to make announcements.
Reading list
The reading list can be found in the syllabus, which is available from Blackboard.
Registration
Please register for this course on uSis.
See Inschrijven voor cursussen en tentamens
See Registration for courses and examinations
Study Abroad students, please see the Study in Leiden website for information on how to apply.
See also Registration for courses and examinations
Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs
Not applicable.
Contact details
Remarks
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