2023/24 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PRHS2333 Thinking About Race

10 creditsClass Size: 100

Module manager: Dr Ellen Clarke
Email: e.clarke@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2023/24

Pre-requisite qualifications

None

Module replaces

None

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Because this module explores the concept of race we will cover issues throughout which are sensitive and could be potentially re-traumatising for some students. Examples of such topics are: racial oppression, apartheid, eugenics, white privilege, race-based health inequalities, and transracial identity. If you are unsure whether this module is suitable for you, please contact the module leader for more details before choosing this module. This module will examine questions about race from the perspective of philosophy, religion and history of science. We will examine philosophical questions surrounding thought and talk about races, the theological traditions of racialized thinking as well as of resistance to racism, and the history of scientific thinking about races.

Objectives

The module aims to provide students with an understanding of way in which a variety of fields (Philosophy, Theology and History of Science) investigate and understand central issues surrounding race. It also aims to provide students with the basis for reflection on the interactions between the methods and approaches used in these different disciplines.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to:
1. Show a good grasp of some central issues, arguments, and theories regarding race in philosophy, theology and history of science;
2. Show understanding of how these issues, arguments, and theories relate to one another;
3. Demonstrate the capacity to analyse arguments critically and develop their own

Skills outcomes
Interpreting philosophical, scientific and theological texts
Relating work from different disciplines
Critical philosophical analysis and evaluation

Syllabus

Topics studied may include (but are not limited to) the following:
• The metaphysics of race.
• Political philosophy and race
• Epistemological issues of race.
• The phenomenology of race
• Religious thought about race
• African approaches to race
• Relations between race, culture and ethnicity
• Biological science and racial categorisation
• Aesthetics and race

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lectures	11	1.00	11.00
Seminars	5	1.00	5.00
Private study hours			84.00
Total Contact hours			16.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			100.00

Private study

Reading and seminar preparation: 30 hours
Essay preparation: 30 hours
Lecture preparation: 11 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Via seminar performance, essay, and discussions with the module leader outside of class time (e.g. in office hours).

Small group presentations in seminars and the chance to get personal feedback on a 400 word essay plan.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2000	100.00
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: 12/05/2023

Disclaimer

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