PIR-20066 - Module Specification
School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

This module provides an introduction to two of the most widely debated concepts in contemporary political theory. Freedom and equality are amongst the central values of modern political life, and inform many campaigns for justice around the world today. The module focuses on current thinking about the meaning, justification and political application of these concepts. Through examining the ideas of leading contemporary political theorists and philosophers, students gain a better understanding of two of the most interesting and important concepts in contemporary political thought and practice.
The module firstly examines Isaiah Berlin famous distinction between negative and positive freedom. We ask whether justice involves ensuring citizens freedom from physical harm or other forms of danger; or whether freedom is a matter of achieving goals that one sets for oneself - i.e., autonomy. The distinction between positive and negative freedom is applied to the topical debate about free speech in liberal societies. The second part of the module focuses on equality. Why is equality valuable? Is it more valuable than freedom? Should egalitarians be committed to securing equal opportunities or equal outcomes? Pressing issues of equality between present and future generations and between different nations are also considered.
Lectures introduce the main concepts and thinkers covered in the module, and are accompanied by meetings of small one-hour tutorial groups. In the tutorials, students have an opportunity to engage in structured discussions about particular themes and questions.

1. To familiarise students with important issues and theoretical debates about freedom and equality within contemporary political theory.
2. To enable students to develop the skills necessary to analyse questions about freedom and equality using their own assessments of well-established theoretical perspectives, general principles and counter-examples.
3. To enable students to acquire subject-specific knowledge as well as employability skills, including the capacity for analysis and argumentation through writing the essay; for effective planning and preparation through the essay plan; and independent reasoning skills by taking the examination.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Recognise and define freedom and equality as major concepts in political theory: 1,2
Identify the philosophical underpinnings of different traditions of thought (e.g., liberal; communitarian; libertarian) with contrasting interpretations of these concepts: 1,2
Demonstrate rigour in the critical assessment of arguments presented in pertinent readings in contemporary political philosophy, as prescribed in the module reading-list and, where appropriate, arising from the student's own searches: 1,2
Communicate ideas effectively in written forms: 1,2
Develop a sustained and well-supported perspective on the meaning and importance of freedom and equality as core political ideas: 2
Understand the nature of academic honesty and plagiarism, and effectively apply conventions regarding the use and acknowledgement of sources, employing the Harvard system of referencing: 1,2

Study hours

10 hours lectures;
10 hours seminars;
55 hours preparation for seminars and essay writing;
35 hours revision for examination;
40 hours researching and writing the essay

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment