Unit name | Ideas and Society |
---|---|
Unit code | AFAC10002 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | C/4 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
Unit director | Dr. Burch-Brown |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Arts Faculty Office |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
This unit takes a single philosophical idea that has been influential in the history of human society, and considers its philosophical basis, its historical importance, the way in which it changed over the course of history, and the ways in which it spread and means by which it was suppressed. The unit explores the arguments that have surrounded the idea, both in favour of it and against it, as well as arguments that serve to clarify or amend the idea. It investigates, through case studies, some of the effects that this idea has had on society at various points in its history. Some possible topics include environmentalism, human rights, scientific method and the rise of modern science, equality, or reason and its discontents. Weekly lectures could explore the history and conceptual foundation of the idea, while seminars could ensure that concepts were understood while exploring a selection of case studies.
The unit aims:
By the end of the unit, students should:
Two 1-hour lectures per week; one 1-hour seminar per week (on readings done in advance).
1. Class presentation and formative essay. Each student will make a presentation on a case study pertinent to the idea examined in the unit, and submit a 1,500-word formative essay for feedback. Students will be encouraged to relate one of their pieces of assessment to live issues in contemporary society.
2. Summative essay (100%). An essay (2,000 words) on a topic related to the module, from a designated list.
[Both assessments will assess ILOs 1-4.]
The list will change according to the theme chosen. For human rights, the list might include:
Jones, P., 1994, Rights, New York: St. Martin's Press
Edmundson, W., 2004, An Introduction to Rights, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Campbell, T., 2006, Rights: A Critical Introduction, London: Routledge
Morsink, J. 2000, The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Origins, Drafting, and Intent, University of Pennsylvannia Press
Nickel, J. 2007, Making Sense of Human Rights, Wiley