2023/24 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

PRHS5500M Moral and Political Philosophy in a Global Context I

30 creditsClass Size: 20

Module manager: Dr Jessica Isserow
Email: J.M.Isserow@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

The module covers key concepts and theories in moral and political philosophy – such as competing conceptions of welfare, consequentialism, and deontology – before building on this theoretical basis to address particular global problems and challenges. Examples of such challenges include those concerning climate change, public health, collective harm, freedom of expression, and global justice.

Objectives

This module provides students with a grounding in core aspects of moral and political philosophy, equipping them with a strong grasp of important ethical concepts and theories, including: welfare, consequentialism, deontology, egalitarianism, prioritarianism, and exploitation. These powerful theoretical tools will be applied to issues of global moral concern, such as poverty, public health, markets, inter-cultural tolerance, and freedom of speech.

Learning outcomes
On completion of the module, students should have provided evidence of being able to:

1. Understand in depth of some of the key concepts, issues, debates, and approaches in contemporary moral and political philosophy.

2. Apply this theoretical knowledge and understanding in such a way as to make sense of specific global challenges, both orally and in writing.

3. Demonstrate advanced analytical skills when critically discussing texts and topics orally in seminars.

4. Present in writing clear, cogent, sustained arguments, based on relevant research.

Skills outcomes
Understand in depth of some of the key concepts, issues, debates, and approaches in contemporary moral and political philosophy.

Apply this theoretical knowledge and understanding in such a way as to make sense of specific global challenges, both orally and in writing.

Analysing and criticising philosophical arguments and theories clearly and incisively.

Thinking through complex philosophical questions with independence of mind.

Arguing for a philosophical position and expressing this argument effectively both in writing and orally.

Syllabus

The topics explored will include such things as:

Human Welfare

Consequentialism & Deontology

Consequentialist & Deontological approaches to global poverty

Aggregation and Duties of Rescue

Public Health: Egalitarianism, Prioritarianism, and Utilitarianism

Morals & Markets: Addressing Exploitation

The problem of collective harm

Duties to future people

Cultural Relativism

Freedom of Expression

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminars	11	2.00	22.00
Individual Support	1	1.00	1.00
Independent online learning hours			11.00
Private study hours			266.00
Total Contact hours			23.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

Independent online learning – watching weekly pre-recorded lectures and completing associated online self-study tasks: 11 hours (roughly one hour per week)

Weekly reading and preparation for seminars: 99 hours (roughly 9 hours per seminar)

Preparation for presentation: 15 hours

Research and preparation for essay supervision: 80 hours

Further research and drafting for essay: 72 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Formative feedback will be given in the following ways:

In the weekly two-hour seminars, the module leader will respond to student questions and support understanding based on the module content and readings.

In a one-to-one supervision (one hour), the module leader will comment and provide guidance and feedback on an essay plan submitted by the student.

Feedback will be delivered on the presentations in the weekly seminar, and written feedback will also be sent to the student.

Office hours offered by the module leader and tutorial leader (if these are different)

Student progress will be monitored in the following ways:

A 10-minute presentation, given by each student at some point during the semester.

Submission of a 5,000-word essay submitted at the end of the module.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	5000 words	80.00
Oral Presentation	10 minutes	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 28/04/2023 14:44:04

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