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PHIL385 Reason and Choice: Individual, Social, Political

Updated: 06 January 2010
Credit Points 6
Offering Not offered in 2010
Intensive School(s)
Start Finish Attendance Notes
N/A N/A Non-Mandatory
Supervised Exam There is a UNE Supervised Examination held at the end of the teaching period in which you are enrolled.
Pre-requisites 6cp in PHIL or candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions PHIL285 or PHIL485 or PHIL585 or PHPO285 or PHPO385
Notes None
Combined Units PHIL585 - Reason and Choice: Individual, Social, Political
Coordinator(s) Arcady Blinov (ablinov@une.edu.au)
Unit Description

The idea of reason organises discussion of issues in ethical, political and social philosophy. Topics include: the critique of instrumental reason; particularist critique of practical reason; Prisoners' Dilemma and Arrow's Theorem; the Kantian accounts of reason and morality; post-modernist critique of public reason; weakness of will and radical interpretation.
Recommended Material
Optional 		Text(s):

Note: Recommended material is held in the University Library - purchase is optional

The Philosophy of Social Science: An Introduction
ISBN: 9780521447805
Hollis, M., Cambridge University Press 1994
Text refers to: Semester 2 , On and Off Campus
Disclaimer Unit information may be subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.
Assessment
Title Exam Length Weight Mode No. Words
Assignment 1 60% 3500
Assessment Notes
Essay
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-3 GA: 1, 2, 4-6
Final Examination 2 hrs 40%
Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and Graduate Attributes (GA)
LO: 1-3 GA: 1, 2, 4-6

Learning Outcomes (LO) Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. explore significant philosophical issues regarding the nature of reason;
  2. develop an awareness and appreciation of different philosophical approaches which might be taken to the problem of rational choice;
  3. develop an appreciation of philosophical theory in general.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Students will be taught communication skills through written and oral feedback on the essay for the unit. Students studying on-campus will learn valuable communication skills through participation in tutorials (this will include debates and small group work). Students will be assessed on the style of writing, clarity of writing, expression and development of ideas, and referencing. Students will practice their communication skills through completing the assessment tasks (written through the essay). 		True True
2 Communication Skills
Written communication skills will be taught, practiced and assessed for all students through required essay assignments. For on-campus students oral communication skills will be taught and practiced through participation in tutorials. 		True True True
4 Information Literacy
Students will be taught, and directed, to relevant literature and how to assess its validity. Students will be assessed (through the essay) on their ability to identify relevant literature, and on their ability to critically analyse the literature. 		True True
5 Life-Long Learning
Through completing the assessments, students will be provided with the necessary lifelong skills to be able to research, write and discuss social issues. These skills can be transferred to any discipline, and will be useful in any research positions. These attributes will be assessed in all of the assessments (written skills; analytical skills). In addition, students who attend tutorials will be provided with the skills to debate contentious topics and develop their understanding of a topic through group activities. 		True True
6 Problem Solving
Students will be assessed on their ability to deconstruct the essay question and to integrate theory and literature into their answer. Students will need to work out how to address the question and where the most appropriate material is to answer the question. 		True
7 Social Responsibility
Students will be taught about their professional responsibilities as a researcher to provide balanced and accurate research. In addition, students will be taught that they have a social responsibility to question and challenge some 'facts'. This will be assessed and taught through their responses to the essay, exam questions and discussions in tutorials or online postings. 		True True
8 Team Work
Students will practice their teamwork skills through participating in tutorials, or online discussion postings. They will be required to discuss the weekly topics with their fellow students in a thoughtful and respectful manner (practice). 		True
   

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