THE UNIVERSITY of EDINBURGH

DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2020/2021

Information in the Degree Programme Tables may still be subject to change in response to Covid-19

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : School of History, Classics and Archaeology : History

Undergraduate Course: Intellectual History from Antiquity to the Renaissance (HIST10197)

Course Outline
SchoolSchool of History, Classics and Archaeology CollegeCollege of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 10 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityAvailable to all students
SCQF Credits20 ECTS Credits10
SummaryThis course will introduce students to the some of the most famous texts of western intellectual history. It will move from key writings of Antiquity to those of the Renaissance, such as Plato's Republic, Augustine's City of God, Machiavelli's Prince and Thomas More's Utopia.
Course description A central aim of this course is to introduce students to the study of intellectual history in general. It is also intended as an introduction to several of the most influential texts and currents of thought in European intellectual history, from classical antiquity to the sixteenth century. These authors asked fundamental questions such as 'what is the good life for human beings?', 'what is the relationship between the individual and the state, and between the temporal and spiritual realms?' They developed powerful and fascinating theories about of virtue, freedom, and the nature, necessity and dangers of political authority. The course will explore these ideas in their historical contexts.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites 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, Personal Tutors are asked to contact the History Honours Admission Secretary to ensure that a place is available (Tel: 504030).
Information for Visiting Students
Pre-requisitesVisiting 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. Applicants should note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission.

** as numbers are limited, visiting students should contact the Visiting Student Office directly for admission to this course **
High Demand Course? Yes
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2020/21, Available to all students (SV1) Quota:  0
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 200 ( Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 174 )
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Coursework:
2,000 word Essay (33%)
3,500 word Essay (67%)
Feedback Students will receive written feedback on their coursework, and will have the opportunity to discuss that feedback further with the Course Organiser during their published office hours or by appointment.
No Exam Information
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. demonstrate, by way of coursework, command of the body of knowledge considered in the course;
  2. demonstrate, by way of coursework, an ability to read, analyse and reflect critically upon relevant scholarship;
  3. demonstrate, by way of coursework, an ability to understand, evaluate and utilise a variety of primary source material;
  4. demonstrate, by way of coursework, the ability to develop and sustain scholarly arguments in oral and written form, by formulating appropriate questions and utilising relevant evidence;
  5. demonstrate independence of mind and initiative; intellectual integrity and maturity; an ability to evaluate the work of others, including peers.
Reading List
This year we will be reading selections from the following primary texts:

Plato, Republic
Aristotle, Politics and Nicomachean Ethics
Augustine, The City of God against the Pagans
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae
Christine de Pizan, The Book of the City of Ladies
Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince and Discourses on Livy
Thomas More, Utopia

Recommended editions/translations will be advised in due course, once online availability has been confirmed. In the meantime if you have any questions about preliminary reading please contact the course organiser.
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsAntiquity to Renaissance
Contacts
Course organiserDr Felicity Green
Tel: (0131 6)51 3856
Email: Felicity.Green@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMiss Lorna Berridge
Tel:
Email: Lorna.Berridge@ed.ac.uk
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