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Year:

PHIL585 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 candidature in a postgraduate award
Co-requisites None
Restrictions PHIL285 or PHIL385 or PHIL485 or PHPO285 or PHPO385
Notes None
Combined Units PHIL385 - 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% 5000
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 to an advanced level;
  2. exhibit a sophisticated awareness and deep appreciation of different philosophical approaches which might be taken to the problem of rational choice;
  3. exhibit an extended appreciation of philosophical theory in general.

Graduate Attributes (GA)
Attribute Taught Assessed Practised
1 Knowledge of a Discipline
Students will deepen their knowledge of the philosophy discipline through lectures and tutorials. It will be assessed in both the written essay and an examination.
True True True
2 Communication Skills
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 True
4 Information Literacy
Students are encouraged to develop research skills in collecting and evaluating data, including the skills to assess the utility of information, identify the most useful sources of information and critically examine those sources.
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 conceptualise problems and formulate a range of solutions to both research and presentation. Collect, collate and analyse relevant information to assist problem solving (practice).
True 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 working collaboratively and network effectively to solve problems on the discussion board (Blackboard) taking initiative and leading others in this environment. They will also negotiate and assert their own values and respect the values and contributions of others on the discussion board and in their own essays.
True
   

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