PPR308: Moral, Legal and Political Philosophy

Tutor: TBC
Term: Not available 2013/14

Course Description

This module will address central issues in contemporary ethical (including meta-ethical), legal and political philosophy, and will allow a systematic critical exploration of the connections between ideas and arguments in each of the three areas of the subject.

Topics covered will include some of the following: modern theory of moral motivation, value theory, contractualism, the 'moral problem'; responsibility and criminal liability, the justification of punishment, the proper scope of the law; democratic theory, egalitarianism, justice, nationalism, multiculturalism, liberty and human rights.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students will be able to:

• Explain in outline what is involved in the different philosophical views and positions covered in the module.
• Set out some of the influential arguments that have been developed and defended in respect of these perspectives.
• Write critically about philosophical debates on the topics covered.

Assessment

40% coursework and 60% exam.
Coursework: 1 essays of 3000 words. Exam: 2 hours.

Teaching Method

Lecture (1.5 hours) and seminar (1 hour) weekly.

Introductory Reading

R. Goodin and P. Pettit (eds.) Contemporary Political Philosophy: An Anthology (Blackwell 1997)

H.L.A. Hart Punishment and Responsibility (Oxford University Press 1968)

S. Scheffler (ed.) Consequentialism and its Critics (Oxford University Press 1988)

M. Smith The Moral Problem (Wiley-Blackwell 1994)

M. Tebbit Philosophy of Law: An Introduction, 2nd edition (Routledge 2005)

W. Kymlicka Contemporary Political Philosophy 2nd edition (Oxford University Press 2002)

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