Modern Political Theory (U00187)

? Credit Points : 20 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : SPS-3-POMPT

This course examines a number of concepts which are central to political debate, and investigates how political theorists use these concepts in trying to justify basic principles governing the activities of the state. Drawing largely on contemporary rather that historical literature, it will focus in depth on two or three key political concepts, such as: democracy, exploring how this ideal has been variously defined, justified and criticised; human rights, assessing debates about how extensive such rights should be and whether the very idea of human rights is defensible; and justice, looking at a range of critical responses to the influential work of John Rawls.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : Visiting students must have prior study in Politics. As a general guide we usually require students to have completed three Politics courses at grade B or above. Admission to honours courses is limited and there can be strong competition for places.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Politics, (School of Social and Political Studies, Schedule J)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 10 weeks

First Class Information

Date	Start	End	Room	Area	Additional Information
19/09/2006	15:00	15:50	First Floor Lecture Theatre, Adam House	Central

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Tuesday	15:00	15:50	Central

? Additional Class Information : Weeks 1-10. Plus weekly tutorials.

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

By the end of the course students should have acquired:
(i) critical understanding of key debates about a range of central normative concept in politics;
(ii) familiarity with the contributions to these debates by a number of contemporary political theorists;
(iii) skills of conceptual analysis, textual interpretation and the critcal evaluation of theoretical arguments;
(iv) ability to use (ii) and (iii) above in aticulating and defending their own judgements about (i).