Universität Wien
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180038 SE Political Epistemology (2023W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Continuous assessment of course work

Hinweis der SPL Philosophie:

Das Abgeben von ganz oder teilweise von einem KI-tool (z.B. ChatGPT) verfassten Texten als Leistungsnachweis (z.B. Seminararbeit) ist nur dann erlaubt, wenn dies von der Lehrveranstaltungsleitung ausdrücklich als mögliche Arbeitsweise genehmigt wurde. Auch hierbei müssen direkt oder indirekt zitierte Textstellen wie immer klar mit Quellenangabe ausgewiesen werden.

Die Lehrveranstaltungsleitung kann zur Überprüfung der Autorenschaft einer abgegebenen schriftlichen Arbeit ein notenrelevantes Gespräch (Plausibilitätsprüfung) vorsehen, das erfolgreich zu absolvieren ist.
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Tuesday 10.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 17.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 24.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 31.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 07.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 14.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 21.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 28.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 05.12. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 12.12. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 09.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 16.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 23.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228
  • Tuesday 30.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 2i NIG 2.Stock C0228

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course is a general introduction to political epistemology. To that end, we read key chapters from THE ROUTLEDGE HANDBOOK ON POLITICAL EPISTEMOLOGY (2021). Important educational goals are competences in the interpretation, analysis, critique and oral as well as written presentation of philosophical arguments. These contents and competences are taught by way of seminar discussions and regular feedback.

Assessment and permitted materials

Evaluation of the participation in discussions (20% of the overall mark), of the prepared and uploaded questions (20%) as well as the essay (of about 20 pages, Font 12, Times New Roman) (60%)

By registering for this course you agree that the automated plagiarism software Turnitin will check all of your written work for this course.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Regular attendance (not more than once without a doctor's note); punctual attendance; care (in reading the work of other and regarding one's own presentation); argumentative engagement with others' ideas; regular uploading of questions (at least 10 times) -- Independent essay on one of the topics of the course.

The essay should discuss one of the questions raised in the seminar, and it should be based primarily on the literature discussed in class. It could be, e.g., a critique of one of the positions introduxzced, or an attempt to "decide" one of the debates covered in the seminar.

The overall mark consists of three components:

Mark for the essay: 60% i.e. 60 points
Mark for the questions/comments: 20% i.e. 20 points
Mark for participation in classroom discussion: 20% i.e. 20 points

Your need at least 40 points to complete the course.
All components have to be delivered for there to be a final mark.

Scale for the marks:
1: 85-100 points
2: 70-84 points
3: 55-69 points
4: 40-54 points
5: 0-39 points

Examination topics

There is no exam.

Reading list

The following texts from the Routledge Handbook for Political Epistemology:

(1) Politics and truth I

Kelly, “Mill, liberalism, and epistemic diversity”, 45-54

Sari, “Hannah Arendt and the role of truth in politics”, 55-64

(2) Politics and truth II

Blackburn, “Politics, truth, post-truth, and postmodernism”, 65-73

Greene, “Tyranny, tribalism, and post-truth politics”, 74-84

(3) Political disagreement and polarization I

Carter, “Politics, deep disagreement, and relativism”, 101-112

Edenberg, “Political disagreement: epistemic or civic peers?”, 123-132

(4) Political disagreement and polarization II

McWilliams, “Affective polarization, evidence, and evidentialism”, 145-155

Hannon and de Ridder, “The point of political belief”, 156-166

(5) Fake news, propaganda, and misinformation

Levy and Ross, “The cognitive science of fake news”, 181-191

Gunn, “Filter bubbles, echo chambers, online communities, 192-202

(6) Ignorance and irrationality on politics I

Boyd, “Pragmatic encroachment and political ignorance”, 253-262

Friedman, “Is political irrationality a myth?”, 263-273

(7) Ignorance and irrationality in politics II

Stanovich, “The irrational attempt to impute …”, 274-284

McKenna, “Asymmetrical irrationality …”, 285-286

(8) Epistemic virtues and vices in politics I

Cassam, “Epistemic vices, ideologies, and false consciousness”, 301-311

Battaly, “Engaging close-mindedly with your polluted media feed”, 312-124

(9) Epistemic virtues and vices in politics II

Tanesini, “Virtues and vices in public and political debates”, 325-335

Medina, “Vices of the privileged and virtues of the oppressed …”, 336-346

(10) Democracy and epistemology I

Landemore, “An epistemic argument for democracy”, 363-373

Brennan, “In defense of epistocracy”, 374-383

(11) Democracy and epistemology II

Peter, “Epistemic norms of political deliberation”, 395-406

Guerrero, “The epistemic case for non-electoral forms of democracy”, 419-430

(12) Trust, expertise, and doubt I

Douglas, “The role of scientific expertise in democracy”, 435-445

Baghramian and Croce, “Experts, public policy, and the question of trust”, 446-457

(13) Trust, expertise, and doubt II

Lillehammer, “Testimony, deference, and value”, 458-468

Worsnip, “The skeptic and the climate change", 469-479

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Th 28.09.2023 16:27