Postgraduate Course: Freedom, Consent and Political Obligation (PHIL11194)
Course Outline
School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
Summary | A course in political philosophy conducted by an examination of three fundamental concepts: freedom, consent and obligations to the state. The seminar-based course is oriented around the discussion of focal works by mostly twentieth-century philosophers. |
Course description |
A course in political philosophy conducted by an examination of three fundamental concepts: freedom, consent and obligations to the state. The seminar-based course is oriented around the discussion of focal works by mostly twentieth-century philosophers. The guiding idea is that understanding these concepts provides insights into different constructions of legitimate government and political authority. We will consider each concept several times to understand the varieties of ways in which the concepts may be defined. The course will begin with a discussion of the idea of political philosophy and conclude with a consideration of the extent to which the political can be treated separately from the moral where similar considerations of freedom, consent and obligation exist.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisites | None |
High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- explain how several fundamental political concepts are combined to conceive of legitimate government.
- understand how to address questions such as ¿How is political authority possible?¿ or ¿Do we have a duty to obey the state?¿
- articulate the differences between the political, moral, public and private spheres of activity.
- conduct conceptual analysis of inter-related, abstract concepts.
- give clear, structured arguments in favour of or against a proffered conceptual analysis, revision or elaboration.
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Reading List
Indicative titles:
J. P. Plamenatz, Consent, Freedom and Obligation.
Isaiah Berlin, Two Concepts of Liberty. |
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Rigorous reasoning about sometimes difficult and controversial theoretical matters, as well as increased subtlety in the application of abstract concepts to the political domain. |
Keywords | political philosophy,liberty,freedom,political obligation |
Contacts
Course organiser | Dr David Levy
Tel: (0131 6)50 9943
Email: |
Course secretary | Miss Sabina Ali
Tel: (0131 6) 50 4400
Email: |
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