POL2090 : Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: Social Issues in Contemporary Political Philosophy
- Offered for Year: 2020/21
- Module Leader(s): Dr Andrew Walton
- Teaching Assistant: Dr Meera Inglis
- Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 20 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
To introduce students to prominent schools of thought and representative thinkers in contemporary political philosophy.
To provide students with a thorough knowledge of a range of arguments drawn from this literature on important political issues around equality, diversity, and inclusion.
To advance the ability of students to analyse and assess complex normative arguments.
To help students improve their skills in developing sustained, logically coherent, and persuasive oral and written arguments.
Outline Of Syllabus
This module explores questions of how the social and political world ought to operate, with a particular focus on equality, diversity, and inclusion. It considers questions such as: Ought we to restrict hate speech? Should we use affirmative action policies? How should wealth be distributed, within and across borders? What kind of leave should be offered to parents? Should minority groups be granted exemptions from the law when it conflicts with their cultural or religious beliefs? The module examines these questions by considering prominent literature in normative political philosophy and political science, beginning with the influential contributions of John Rawls and proceeding through contributions that arose in response to or after Rawls’ work. The focus of the module will be to read key literature on these subjects and consider the merits of conflicting viewpoints with the aim of exploring what a defensible account of justice requires.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Small group teaching | 12 | 1:00 | 12:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 164:00 | 164:00 | N/A |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
The main function of lectures is to provide students with an overview of topics and introduce them to the main thinkers studied on the module.
Small group teaching provides students with the opportunity to discuss and debate the issues with their peers, to deepen their knowledge through exchange of ideas about set readings, and to further understanding by raising questions. They also provide a forum to develop oral and team skills in various activities.
Both of the above require students to undertake pre-set readings in order to familiarise themselves with relevant issues and ideas beforehand and be prepared to undertake set tasks.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 90 | 1 | A | 50 | Unseen written exam |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | 1 | M | 50 | 2000 words |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
Both forms of assessment are designed to encourage students to verse themselves in the relevant reading material, present lines of disagreement and debate, and consider how particular positions can be systematically defended and criticised. The essay is used to ensure students can take a specific topic and work through it in considerable depth, while the exam provides a scenario in which students have been pushed to build a knowledge of the various topics on the module that can be recalled and applied in a set timeframe.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- POL2090's Timetable