Undergraduate Course: Knowledge and Social Criticism (SCIL10066)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Social and Political Science |
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 |
Sociology |
Other subject area |
None |
| Course website |
None
|
Taught in Gaelic? |
No |
| Course description |
Sociologists have been debating and disputing the nature of social scientific knowledge, and the most desirable political orientation for social inquirers to adopt since the discipline came into being. This course explores the interconnections between four different 'images' of sociological inquiry, their conceptions of sociological investigation and their views on the appropriate stance towards political and moral debates. These images range from positivist conceptions, where social inquirers are encouraged to be scientists who set their value-judgements to one side, to postmodernist accounts, where the ideal of sociology as a science and the notion that value-judgements can be set aside, are questioned. Also considered are interpretive approaches, arguing the importance of grasping actors' perspectives on the social world, and critical/emancipatory orientations, seeing social scientific knowledge playing key roles in the liberation of social actors from domination and repression. This course critically assesses these approaches considers and appraises pieces of research linked to each perspective. |
Entry Requirements
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites |
|
| Prohibited Combinations |
|
Other requirements |
None
|
| Additional Costs |
No |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites |
Visiting students should have at least 3 Sociology 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 the student will have developed an understanding of theories and debates concerning relationships between knowledge and power, and will be able critically to assess contrasting approaches. |
Assessment Information
| A combination of coursework and/or exams with details to be specified by Course Organiser at first class |
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 |
Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr Jonathan Hearn
Tel: (0131 6)50 4242
Email: J.Hearn@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Ms Sue Renton
Tel: (0131 6)50 6958
Email: Sue.Renton@ed.ac.uk |
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