Programme And Module Handbook
 
Course Details in 2024/25 Session


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Module Title LH Political and Legal Theory
SchoolBirmingham Law School
Department Law
Module Code 08 36078
Module Lead Dr Gavin Byrne
Level Honours Level
Credits 20
Semester Semester 1
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions None
Contact Hours Seminar-33 hours
Guided independent study-167 hours
Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description The aim of this module is to explore the origins and development of major legal and political traditions in the West, including but not limited to:
  • 1 Equality;
  • 2 Neutrality;
  • 3 Liberty;
  • 4 Rights (including property rights);
  • 5 Natural law;
  • 6 Justice;
  • 7 The origins of “left, “right” and “centre”;
  • 8 The birth of “modernism” in Law and Political theory;
  • 9 Arguments against slavery;
  • 10 The relationship between human nature and state authority;
  • 11 Arguments for/against revolution;
  • 12 The exclusion of female voices from political and legal;
  • discourse13 The ‘eurocentricism’ of our political theories.
Students will study in depth works by significant political philosophers who shaped the Western intellectual tradition, including but not limited to:
  • 1 Plato;
  • 2 Aristotle;
  • 3 Aquinas;
  • 4 Grotius;
  • 5 Hobbes;
  • 6 Locke;
  • 7 Rousseau;
  • 8 Burke;
  • 9 Smith;
  • 10 Marx.
Learning Outcomes By the end of the module students should be able to:
  • Summarise and comment upon the current debates on the matters covered in the module, analyse critically the arguments and concepts employed;
  • Apply the knowledge acquired in the module to new situations and recognise the potential for alternative conclusions. Make personal and reasoned judgements about the material covered in the module. Participate appropriately in academic debate on matters covered in the module, presenting specialist material in a manner, which is appropriate to the audience;
  • Bring together and present coherently materials from primary and secondary sources which deal with the issues addressed in the module.
Assessment 36078-01 : Take Home Exam : Exam (School Arranged) - Open Book (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions Assessments:
Take home exam (open-book) - 3hrs (100%)

Reassessment:
Resit failed component(s)
Other
Reading List