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%)