All programmes > Political Philosophy: Advanced Course

Political Philosophy: Advanced Course (B-KUL-W0Q27A)

6 ECTSEnglish39 First termCannot be taken as part of an examination contract
De Schutter Helder
This course is not taught this academic year, but will be taught next year. This course is not taught this academic year, but will be taught next year.
POC Philosophy (internationaal)

Aims

The aim of the course is to deepen the student’s understanding of a core debate in normative political philosophy.

At the end of the course the student should:

- have in-depth knowledge of a specific current debate in political philosophy;
- be able to understand and present the core moral issues at stake in the debate, as well as the different answers that have been and might be developed with regard to that moral issue;
- know the central positions articulated in the literature on the theme at hand, and be able to critically engage with these positions;
- be able to outline a personal and original position in that debate, and to situate that position vis-à-vis other positions in the debate.

 

Previous knowledge

Students must have successfully completed BA courses in Ethics as well as in Political Philosophy.

Is included in these courses of study

Activities

6 ects. Political Philosophy: Advanced Course (B-KUL-W0Q27a)

6 ECTSEnglishFormat: Lecture39 First term
De Schutter Helder
POC Philosophy (internationaal)

Content

Students get fully immersed in one specific debate within normative political philosophy. The specific content changes each year. Examples include: linguistic justice, citizenship and migration, the political philosophy of the European Union, the intellectual history of liberalism, and the link between sovereignty and territory.

Topic for 2023-2024: Why nationalism?

In this course, we zoom in on one domain of research in political philosophy: nationalism. That states are and should be nation-states has been a traditional assumption in political philosophy. But what is the normative reason for this coupling of state and nation? And what can it mean today, in an era of increasing supra-state political power as well as sub-state political claims by national minorities? Are states indeed morally entitled to make one people out of its diverse population, and is nationalism the apppropriate framework within which to conceive of peoplehood? The goal of the course is twofold: to analyze the core moral and politico-philosphical interests and problems at stake in this debate, and to enable students to work out a normative position of their own within this field.

Course material

All readings will be available on Toledo or on reserve in the library.

Format: more information

Lecture with a seminar component. The first lectures are introductory and will give an overview of the course's main texts and themes. The remaining lectures will include seminar-style discussions.

Students are expected to closely read the primary texts, to actively contribute to the discussion of texts during seminars. They should attend all sessions.

Students must complete all readings prior to the sessions, and participate actively in each session.

Attendance is mandatory for this course.

Evaluation

Evaluation: Political Philosophy: Advanced Course (B-KUL-W2Q27a)

Type : Continuous assessment without exam during the examination period
Description of evaluation : Paper/Project, Presentation, Participation during contact hours

Explanation


Students are required to write one paper and to give one presentation in class. They are also expected to actively participate in class discussions. Presentation and participation count for 30 percent; 70 percent of the grade depends on the paper. Attendance is mandatory - this course cannot be taken in absentia. Repeated absence will lead to an NA-grade ('not taken'). 

Information about retaking exams

The second examination attempt is limited to (re)submitting the paper. Participation and/or presentation cannot be retaken.