Universität Wien

180179 SE Central texts and topics in practical philosophy (2022W)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Continuous assessment of course work
ON-SITE
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. 30 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Friday 07.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
Friday 14.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
Friday 21.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
Friday 28.10. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
Friday 04.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
Friday 11.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
Friday 18.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
Friday 25.11. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
Friday 02.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
Friday 09.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
Friday 16.12. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
Friday 13.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
Friday 20.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien
Friday 27.01. 13:15 - 14:45 Hörsaal 2G, NIG Universitätsstraße 7/Stg. II/2.Stock, 1010 Wien

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This seminar is a fast-track introduction for Masters students with no or only little background in practical philosophy. The aim of the seminar is to introduce you to the major sub-disciplines of practical philosophy, such as:
• applied ethics
• moral theory
• applied political theory
• political theory
• metaethics
• social ontology
• feminist and other critical approaches, e.g. postcolonial or race theory

At the end of the seminar, you will be able to
• explain which topics and questions the sub-disciplines of practical philosophy are about
• locate new questions within these sub-disciplines
• focus your investigations on the sub-disciplines most suitable for your questions, and set aside related sub-questions from other sub-disciplines
• independently find further study material related to each sub-discipline as the need arises.

The seminar is designed specifically for the MA in Philosophy and Economics but is open to other MA students who find that they need additional foundations in practical philosophy. The seminar is not intended for students who have completed substantial study in several of the above sub-disciplines – it is an MA-level foundational seminar, not a seminar that builds on existing foundations. In large part, the seminar operates in the so-called “Analytic” tradition of philosophy. If your training in practical philosophy has been mostly in the “Continental” tradition, you may also find this seminar helpful.

Due to the role of the seminar in the MA Philosophy and Economics, topics focus on economics, where possible.

The seminar is taught and assessed in English and will feature extensive small group discussions. In preparation for each seminar, you will read the assigned core text and complete some short preparatory reading tasks and other research exercises on Moodle.

Assessment and permitted materials

The seminar is assessed through one written assignment and the weekly preparation tasks:

1. Weekly tasks. These are marked for completeness, not for correctness: what matters here is that you have seriously thought about the tasks and prepared for the seminar. Weight: 20%. Deadline: Each teaching week at 12 noon on the day before the seminar. Tasks that are late without authorization can at most score a grade of 4 (mere pass).

2. An essay of 1500-1700 words on any topic from the seminar. Weight: 80%. Deadline: 31 January 2023.

The essays are to be submitted on Moodle, preferably as pdf file, with all identifying information (name, student ID) in the text, file name, and file metadata removed to facilitate anonymous marking. Delayed submissions get a marking penalty of +0.2 for each day (24h) of lateness, although this penalty does not lead to a failing grade. If your submission is delayed for reasons outside of your control, e.g. illness, please contact me via email as soon as possible.
I will only look at and mark assessments after the deadline, irrespective of how early you submit, and will then mark them within four weeks. If you need your mark earlier, e.g. if you are on an exchange semester, please explicitly request this by email to matthew.dougherty@univie.ac.at.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

A positive evaluation requires that you achieve a pass grade (4) in both assessment components, and that you actively attend the seminar. Two unauthorized absences will be excused. A pass grade in the weekly tasks requires that the tasks have been completed on time for at least 60% of the seminars. Delayed completion due to certified circumstances beyond your control, e.g. illness, are exempt.

Examination topics

Reading list

Central Readings (optional other readings will be listed on Moodle):
- Singer, P. (1972). Famine, Affluence, and Morality. Philosophy and Public Affairs, 1(3), 229-243
- Bentham, J. An Introduction to the Principles of Morals and Legislation, Chapters 1-5.
- Langton, R. (1992) ‘Duty and Desolation’. Philosophy 67(262): 481–505.
- Plato, Laches
- Midgley, M. (1981) ‘Trying Out One’s New Sword’. In Heart and Mind.
- Hobbes, Leviathan
- Locke, Two Treatises of Government
- Rousseau, The Social Contract
- Rawls, J. (1990) Theory of Justice, Revised Edition, Cambridge: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press
- Collins, S., and L. Ferracioli (2020), ‘Sex under lockdown, but not friendship? The discriminations of intimacy‘, ABC News, 17 August.
- Müller's, Mirjam (2019) ‘Emotional Labour: A Case of Gender-Specific Exploitation’. Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy 22(7): 841–62.
- Appiah, K. A. (1990) ‘Racisms,’ In Anatomy of Racism, edited by David Theo Goldberg. Minneapolis/London: University of Minnesota Press.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Th 22.09.2022 10:29