Universität Wien

180188 SE Interdisciplinary Philosophy & Economics perspectives on contemporary social issues (2020W)

Perspectives on contemporary social issues

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

Summary

1 Pinkert , Moodle
2 Leduc

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).
Registration information is available for each group.

Groups

Group 1

max. 15 participants
Language: English
LMS: Moodle

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Credits: 5 ECTS credits / 2 semester-hours (SWS/SSt)
Time: Thursdays, 09:45-11:15, starting on October 8 / tbc
Location: Seminar Room 1, EG 316, Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 / tbc
Lecturers: Justin Leduc, Department of Economics, justin.leduc@univie.ac.at, and Felix Pinkert, Department of Philosophy, felix.pinkert@univie.ac.at

This seminar is offered specifically for students of the MA Philosophy and Economics. Other students who wish to attend require a background in philosophy and in economics comparable to the backgrounds of students in the second semester of the MA Philosophy and Economics. These students need to apply for special permission from the lecturers before registering for this class, clearly stating their background in both subjects and their interest in this seminar.

*Special arrangements pertaining to COVID-19 public health regulations:* Depending on public health regulations, the seminar may have to take place in a hybrid online/offline format, or entirely online. The assessment remains the same, and we will use the same time slot for online sessions in which we reproduce the seminar setup with plenary and small group discussions. The seminar sessions will also be transmitted online, so if due to health concerns or travel restrictions, you are unable to attend any in-person seminar sessions, then you can participate in this way.

Since the University may have to adapt to changing regulations at short notice, the scheduled seminar time and place is subject to change. We will endeavour to schedule the seminar in a way that avoids or at least minimises overlap with other P&E relevant classes.

Thursday 01.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 08.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 15.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 15.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 22.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 22.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 29.10. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 29.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 05.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 05.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 12.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 12.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 19.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 19.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 26.11. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 26.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 03.12. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 03.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 10.12. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 10.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 17.12. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 17.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 07.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 07.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 14.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 14.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 21.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 21.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 28.01. 09:45 - 11:15 Hörsaal 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
Thursday 28.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Seminarraum 10 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock

Group 2

max. 15 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes

Currently no class schedule is known.

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

In this interdisciplinary research seminar, we explore a selection of contemporary social issues from an interdisciplinary philosophy and economics perspective, and practice interdisciplinary research skills.

Upon successful completion of the seminar, you will have developed your skills in independent interdisciplinary research and will be able to use your knowledge of philosophy and economics to position yourself with regard contemporary social issues in an academically rigorous manner.

Before the start of the semester, the lecturers will select three seminar themes, in consultation with all MA Philosophy and Economics students who intend to participate in the seminar.

For each of the three seminar themes, you will complete a series of research steps that lead you from a very rough selection of a contemporary social issue to a more focused research question, to knowledge of key philosophy and economics ideas and debates pertaining to the question, and finally to a fully formulated plan for an essay or report on the question. Under the guidance of the lecturers, you will take some of these steps in individual seminar preparation, and others cooperatively with other students during the seminar.

The seminar is taught and assessed in English, and will feature extensive small group discussions.

Assessment and permitted materials

The seminar is assessed through weekly assignments, a podcast/video presentation, and a final written assignment.

1) *Weekly research tasks* which contribute to collaboratively exploring a new research topic and developing research plans. These are marked for completeness, not for "correctness": what matters here is that you have seriously attempted the tasks and prepared for the seminar. *Deadline:* Each teaching week 9am on the day before the seminar, so that students can read each other's contributions in preparation of the seminar. Tasks that are late without authorisation can at most score a grade of 4 (mere pass). *Weight of all tasks combined: 30%*.

2) One *video presentation*, of 10-15 minutes, in which you explain a paper in economics or philosophy that is of key importance to the seminar themes. There will be a sign-up roster for selecting a seminar week to contribute your video presentation to: For each of the seminar themes, there will be one week discussing philosophy, and one week economics, ideas relevant to the theme. Your presentation will present one key paper of your own choosing, the paper selection must be agreed upon with the lecturers, and lecturers can offer guidance for selecting a paper. *Deadline:* The video presentations must be uploaded by 9am on the day before the respective seminar. *Weight: 20%.* Since the success of the seminar depends on everyone watching the presentations before the seminar sessions, delayed uploads can achieve at most a passing grade (4). If upload is delayed for reasons outside of your control, e.g. illness, then this penalty does not apply.

3) A final written assignment, of 2500-2700 words. *Deadline:* February 28, 23:59. *Weight: 50%*. You have a choice of three assignment formats:
- An interdisciplinary academic essay/paper, which argues for a particular claim or answer to a question pertaining to one of the seminar themes, and which uses ideas from both disciplines to make its point.
- A report or case study on a problem or question pertaining to one of the seminar themes, which uses ideas from both disciplines. The intended target audience are decision-makers in political organisations and government, business, or the non-profit sector.
- A research proposal, suitable for a PhD application, which explains a problem or question pertaining to the seminar themes, the state of the art of the relevant literature in philosophy and economics, and outlines a PhD thesis and research programme.

The paper outline and paper are to be submitted on Moodle, 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, please contact the lecturers via email as soon as possible.

We will only look at and mark the final assessment 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.

By registering for this course/seminar, you tacitly agree to having all your electronic submissions checked by the plagiarism detection software Turnitin.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

A positive evaluation requires that you achieve a pass grade (4) in all assessment components, and that you actively attend the seminar. Two unauthorized absences will be excused.

Examination topics

Your presentation needs to cover the seminar theme and academic discipline relevant for the seminar week you have selected. Your final assignment may be on any topic linked to the seminar themes. You are encouraged to develop your own research topics, and to consult with the lecturers on your writing plans.

Reading list

Students collaboratively explore the research topics and compile literature lists, under the guidance of the lecturers.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Sa 08.07.2023 00:17