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Module Title
LM Human Rights
School
Phil, Theology and Religion
Department
Philosophy
Module Code
09 37834
Module Lead
Merten Reglitz
Level
Masters Level
Credits
20
Semester
Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions
None
Exclusions
Description
This module introduces students to the contemporary philosophical debates about human rights. It focuses more on human rights understood as moral rights rather than as legal rights written in international law. We will begin from the very basic question of what human rights are. We will also consider questions such as ‘What kind of human rights are there?’, What justifies their human rights and what is their function?’, ‘Which beings can have human rights?’, 'Are human rights inalienable, and ‘What happens when human rights conflict?’ The first half of the module then focuses on exploring different philosophical justifications for human rights, such as justifications based on the dignity of human agency, international politics, and human flourishing. The second half of the module will focus on philosophical debates about the nature of specific familiar as well as contentious or new human rights.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Show familiarity with the several dominant philosophical theories of human rights
Explain and evaluate different philosophical justifications for human rights
Demonstrate understanding of philosophical and ethical debates about well-established as well as novel or controversial individual human rights
Understand the scope of human rights and the duties they entail as well as justifications for restricting human rights
Assessment
37834-01 : Option 1: 4000 word essay : Coursework (100%)
37834-02 : Option 2: 2 x 2000 word essay : Coursework (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions
Assessment: EITHER one 4000 word essay (100%) OR two 2000 word essays (each 50%)
Reassessment: The same as the first assessment. Students would be reassessed on any failed component that resulted in failure of the module as a whole.
