Content

During the academic year 2024-2025 students can choose between a module in political philosophy and a module in ethics:

GROUP 1 - Political Philosophy - Dr. Donald Ude

Topic: Politics of Knowledge in Decolonial Discourses

There has always been an inextricable link between knowledge and power in human society. But, perhaps more than ever, the emergence of capitalist modernity in the sixteenth century has accentuated this knowledge-power nexus, establishing it on more systemically oppressive grounds, defined by capital. Indeed, we live in an epistemically lopsided world, where the parts of the world that have the power of capital also control knowledge/knowledge-production. Western hegemonic knowledge system stifles other knowledge traditions, so that the West (i.e., the ‘epistemic West’) may maintain its control over other parts of the world, especially the “Global South.” What politics of knowledge/knowledge-production in our modern world confers such dominance on Western knowledge system? How has this politics of knowledge structured itself to sustain and reproduce this dominance? What are the wider implications of this epistemic hegemony for our world today? How could we create an epistemically just world where knowledges from various parts of the world are equally recognized, valued and promoted? The seminar will explore decolonial discourses (especially from Latin America and Africa), showing how they try to address the above questions. We shall read critical texts from important decolonial thinkers (especially from Latin America and Africa), paying attention to how they understand, theoretically analyze as well as challenge Western epistemic hegemony. We shall also consider some of their proposals for a more epistemically balanced world, a world where marginalized knowledges and thought-patterns may equally be valorized and appreciated.

GROUP 2 - Ethics - Dr. Sophie Lauwers

Topic: Recognition and Misrecognition

Philosophers who believe that humans are ‘dialogical’ beings, emphasize that being recognized by others is crucial for human flourishing. But what exactly does such ‘recognition’ entail? Is it enough to be recognized as an equal to others? Or do we also need to be recognized precisely for what sets us apart? And if we want recognition, do we also have a moral duty to recognize others? Should we even organize recognition on the level of the state? At the same time, we can also ask whether there are risks involved in attributing too much moral and political importance to recognition. For example, can it not be stifling to be recognized as belonging to a particular religion, gender, culture, or class? Moreover, if we understand claims to justice primarily in terms of recognition, do we not forget other important considerations, like redistribution? And how does recognition operate in contexts of (post-)colonial or other forms of domination?

In this course, we explore questions about the importance and dangers of (mis)recognition, by studying texts in for example critical theory, feminism, liberalism, and postcolonialism. Following this course, students can either decide to write a BA paper about the purely theoretical aspects of the debate about recognition, or apply (aspects of) this debate to a contemporary societal question of their choice.

Course material

Selection of primary texts and secondary literature. The course material changes from year to year, together with the topics and will be announced at the beginning of each seminar.

Format: more information

In the seminar, students will be guided in the process of writing their Bachelor's Paper. Every year certain topics will be offered in the seminar. Students write their paper on a subject that falls within one of the topics. The theme facilitates student interaction in the seminars. 

Attendance to all seminar sessions is mandatory! A student who is repeatedly and for illegitimate reasons absent can be denied further access to class by the teacher of the course.

For the research skills, a coursebook will be made available through the Toledo community Online Writing Lab (author: Griet Galle). Information sessions on research, writing, and presentation skills will also be organised.

Content

Students write a paper (minimum 6250 and maximum 7500 words, table of contents, footnotes and bibliography not included) on one of the topics offered in the seminar. For information on the requirements for the paper and submission deadlines, please see the website of the Bachelor's Paper with Seminar.

Format: more information

Writing the paper includes:
-        doing library research;
-        reading and processing of primary and secondary literature;
-        writing a one-page proposal;
-        writing a first draft, taking into account the remarks of fellow students and the teacher;
-        writing the final draft, taking into account the remarks made by fellow students and the teacher. The seminars are organized to guide students through the process of writing. In addition, students can contact the teacher for individual feedback.

Students should read and follow the following guidelines:

• Specific guidelines with regard to the course "Bachelor's Paper with seminar"
• HIW General guidelines for written work
• HIW guidelines with regard to plagiarism

Is also included in other courses

• W0W41A : Bachelor's Paper with Seminar: Logic and Analytic Philosophy
• W0W42A : Bachelor's Paper with Seminar: Phenomenology and Philosophical Anthropology
• W0W44A : Bachelor's Paper with Seminar: Ancient and Medieval Philosophy
• W0W45A : Bachelor's Paper with Seminar: Metaphysics and Philosophy of Culture