HUM6012 - Great Thinkers: Applying Political Ideas

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding of selected West European theorists and thinkers in the humanities and social sciences.
Demonstrate an ability to apply theories and philosophies which they have studied to particular issues or topics, such as the nature of freedom, the ideal political community, equality, gender roles, war and peace, aesthetics, etc.
Exhibit a high level of ability to present ideas orally and to sustain debate.

Content:

Students will study theories and philosophies of normally six thinkers in philosophy, politics, and the social sciences, such as (for example), Hobbes, Rousseau, Marx and Engels, Arendt, Foucault, Butler. They will be concentrating primarily on key texts from the thinkers’ works. They will be required to compare and contrast the theories and ideas of thinkers in class discussions and to apply them to such issues and topics (for example) civic responsibility, power, equality, race and gender and the role of religion and culture in a civic community. The theorists studied and the topic/issue chosen for the presentations may vary from year to year and could be selected with attention to the nature of the cohort of students (e.g. should the cohort consist primarily of theologians, a greater number of theological thinkers could be selected). The module will develop theoretical and critical understanding and knowledge appropriate to preparation for postgraduate study within the humanities and develop the ability to explain and experiment with ideas through debate and discussion. Students will be trained in different techniques of verbal and visual presentation..

Learning and Teaching Information:

Lectures and seminars/workshops will be the principal modes of delivery, the latter in particular featuring extensive discussion and debate. Learning will be supported by hand-outs, and by preparation and reading before each seminar as directed by the tutors.

Lectures/Seminars/Workshops
Hours: 34
Intended Group size: 25

individual Tutorials
Hours: 1

Guided independent study
Hours: 165

Assessment:

Fact File

Module Coordinator - David Ellis
Level - 6
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered -

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