Module manager: Gerald Lang
Email: G.R.Lang@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2024/25
| PRHS5500M | Moral and Political Philosophy in a Global Context I |
This module is not approved as an Elective
The module covers key concepts and theories in contemporary political philosophy—the topics likely to be covered include legitimacy, justice, liberty, immigration and nationalism, democracy, and Just War Theory—as a means of exploring particular moral and political challenges in the contemporary international order.
This module provides students with a grounding in core aspects of contemporary political philosophy, equipping them with a strong grasp of those political concepts and theories that are particularly relevant to ethical and political aspects of the international order.
On completion of the module, students should have provided evidence of being able to:
1. Understand in depth of some of the key concepts, issues, debates, and approaches in contemporary political philosophy.
2. Apply this theoretical knowledge and understanding in such a way as to make sense of specific global challenges, both orally and in writing.
3. Demonstrate advanced analytical skills when critically discussing texts and topics orally in seminars.
4. Present in writing clear, cogent, sustained arguments, based on relevant research.
Understand in depth of some of the key concepts, issues, debates, and approaches in contemporary political philosophy.
Apply this theoretical knowledge and understanding in such a way as to make sense of specific global challenges, both orally and in writing.
Analysing and criticising philosophical arguments and theories clearly and incisively.
Thinking through complex philosophical questions with independence of mind.
Arguing for a philosophical position and expressing this argument effectively both in writing and orally.
The topics explored will include such things as:
Political legitimacy
Political liberty
Contemporary theories of distributive justice (such as Rawls and Nozick)
Global justice: extending theories of distributive justice to the international order
The wrongness of discrimination, and remedies such as affirmative action
The case for reparations
The purpose and value of democracy
Immigration
Nationalism and national priority
Just War Theory
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Support | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Seminar | 11 | 2 | 22 |
| Independent online learning hours | 11 | ||
| Private study hours | 266 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 23 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300 | ||
Independent online learning – watching weekly pre-recorded lectures and completing associated online self-study tasks: 11 hours (roughly one hour per week)
Weekly reading and preparation for seminars: 99 hours (roughly 9 hours per seminar)
Preparation for presentation: 15 hours
Research and preparation for essay supervision: 80 hours
Further research and drafting for essay: 72 hours
Formative feedback will be given in the following ways:
In the weekly two-hour seminars, the module leader will respond to student questions and support understanding based on the module content and readings.
In a one-to-one supervision (one hour), the module leader will comment and provide guidance and feedback on an essay plan submitted by the student.
Feedback will be delivered on the presentations in the weekly seminar, and written feedback will also be sent to the student.
Student progress will be monitored in the following ways:
A 10-minute presentation, given by each student at some point during the semester.
Submission of a 5,000-word essay submitted at the end of the module.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 5000 words | 80 |
| Oral Presentation | 10 minutes | 20 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 29/04/2024
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team