Undergraduate Course: Topics in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PHIL10259)
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 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Many issues of urgent theoretical interest are considered separately by philosophers, political scientists, and economists. Each of these disciplines shines important light on these questions. But anything that throws light on its subject matter also casts shadows. In this philosophy course, students will tackle a topic or related set of topics from a 'PPE'-perspective. This is a perspective that takes into consideration the kinds of questions, methods, and assumptions that are distinctive of each of philosophy, politics, and economics, in an attempt to gain insights from each of these three related domains. Studying these issues more holistically will hopefully yield distinctive insights. |
| Course description |
Many issues of urgent theoretical interest are considered separately by philosophers, political scientists, and economists. Each of these disciplines shines important light on these questions. But anything that throws light on its subject matter also casts shadows. In this philosophy course, students will tackle a topic or related set of topics from a 'PPE'-perspective. This is a perspective that takes into consideration the kinds of questions, methods, and assumptions that are distinctive of each of philosophy, politics, and economics, in an attempt to gain insights from each of these three related domains. Studying these issues more holistically will hopefully yield distinctive insights.
There is a wide range of topics that can be fruitfully examined in this way, including, but certainly not limited to: democracy; racism; market-based economics; non-market-based economics; ideal versus non-ideal theory; community wealth building; revolution; racism; class-based oppression; sex/gender-based oppression; work in general; domestic labour, emotional labour, or reproductive labour; well-being; social ontology; reasoning; etc.
This is a philosophy class, and students can expect to be examined as philosophy students. Readings will include at least one examplar from each of the three disciplines.
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
Students MUST have passed:
Mind, Matter and Language (PHIL08014) AND
Knowledge and Reality (PHIL08017)
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students studying on MA Cognitive Science (Humanities) are permitted to take this course without having met the pre-requisites of Mind, Matter and Language and Knowledge and Reality. However, it is advisable that students discuss the suitability of the course with their Student Adviser and the Course Organiser before enrolling. |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Visiting students should have completed at least 3 Philosophy courses at grade B or above. We will only consider University/College level courses. Applicants should note that, as with other popular courses, meeting the minimum does NOT guarantee admission. **Please note that honours Philosophy courses are high-demand, meaning that they have a very high number of students wishing to enrol in a very limited number of spaces.** These enrolments are managed strictly by the Visiting Student Office, in line with the quotas allocated by the department, and all enquiries to enrol in these courses must be made through the CAHSS Visiting Student Office. It is not appropriate for students to contact the department directly to request additional spaces. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2026/27, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
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) |
Midterm essay (2,000 words) - 40%
Final essay (2,500 words) - 60% |
| Feedback |
Feedback will be provided via individual written feedback on assessments, in-class group level feedback, and one-to-one conversations by email or during office hours. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Critically evaluate existing research from a PPE perspective and communicate these evaluations to others
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of classic and contemporary theories of the given topic
- Present and defend arguments concerning these topics
- Reflectively and explicitly consider the bearing of distinctive theoretical methodologies on the same or similar questions
- Reflectively and explicitly consider the benefits of bringing distinctive theoretical methodologies to bear on the same or similar questions
|
Reading List
- Hausman, McPherson, Satz, Economic Analysis, Moral Philosophy, and Public Policy
- Carol Gould, Rethinking Democracy; Cedric J. Robinson, Black Marxism
- Aníbal Quijano, On the Coloniality of Power; Joseph Heath, Ethics for Capitalists
- Andrea Sangiovanni, Solidarity; Elizabeth Anderson, Value in Ethics and Economics
- Chiara Cordelli, The Privatised State
- Nedelsky and Malleson, Part-Time for All
- Philip Kain, Marx, Revolution, and Social Democracy
- David Estlund, Utopophobia
- Samuel Bowles, The Moral Economy
- Michael Bacharach, Beyond Individual Choice
- Michael Bratman, Shared and Institutional Agency
- Anna Stilz, Liberal Loyalty. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course will require students to critically engage with a range of different texts, authors, disciplines, and traditions. Students will be required to engage in extended interrogation of controversial and complex themes bearing on issues of contemporary importance. They will do so together, in a reflective way. The method of engaging with texts and arguments will be inclusive in a variety of ways: texts will represent a variety of perspectives, and our discussions will be open, respectful, humble, and honest.
|
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Barry Maguire
Tel: (0131 6)51 3083
Email: bmaguire@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Cameron Findlay
Tel:
Email: cameron.findlay@ed.ac.uk |
|
|
University Homepage