Undergraduate Course: Intellectual History from Montesquieu to Marx (HIST10257)
Course Outline
| School | School of History, Classics and Archaeology |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 20 |
| Home subject area | History |
Other subject area | Philosophy |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course aims to introduce students to some of the most important texts in western political and moral thought in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, namely those of Montesquieu, Rousseau, Burke, Wollstonecraft, Kant, Bentham, Hegel, Tocqueville, John Stuart Mill and Marx. It will explore the origins of key movements, such as individualism, utilitarianism and Marxism. It will examine foundational accounts of freedom, representative government, democracy, nationality, empire and the social contract. At all times, it will situate the ideas in their historical contexts, showing how they are both constrained by and instrumental in shaping events, as in the case, for example, of Montesquieu and the American Revolution. As with the other intellectual history courses, this course is distinctive in engaging students with close textual analysis of primary sources. |
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | A pass or passes in 40 credits of first level historical courses or equivalent and a pass or passes in 40 credits of second level historical courses or equivalent.
Before enrolling students on this course, Directors are asked to contact the History Honours Admission Secretary to ensure that a place is available (Tel: 503783). |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have at least 3 History courses at grade B or above (or be predicted to obtain this). We will only consider University/College level courses. |
| Displayed in Visiting Students Prospectus? | Yes |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of this course, students will:
! Have an understanding of some of the most significant ideas in western political and moral theory in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which continue to inform political and individual experience today. These include various accounts of liberty, democracy, the social contract, empire and nationality, and movements such as utilitarianism and Marxism.
! Be familiar with the works of such giants of intellectual history as Montesquieu, Rousseau, Burke, Wollstonecraft, Kant, Bentham, Constant, Hegel, Tocqueville, John Stuart Mill and Marx.
! Grasp the importance of ideas in history, and more particularly of the complex way that ideas both shape and are shaped by events.
! Be able to analyse primary texts, evaluating the arguments and locating them historically.
! Demonstrate the above skills in written work, presentations and other oral contributions to the seminars.
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Assessment Information
| One 3000 word essay worth one third of overall assessment and one two-hour examination worth two thirds of overall assessment. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Not entered |
| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Not entered |
| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Intellectual History; Montesquieu; Rousseau; Burke; Wollstonecraft; Kant; Bentham; Hegel; Tocquevill |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Andrew Wells
Tel: (0131 6)50 3777
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Caroline Cullen
Tel: (0131 6)50 3781
Email: |
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