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Module Catalogue

PH9GG-30 Democracy: Authority and Resistance

Department
Philosophy
Level
Taught Postgraduate Level
Module leader
Sameer Bajaj
Credit value
30
Module duration
10 weeks
Assessment
100% coursework
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry

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Introductory description

PH9GG-30 Democracy and Authority

Module aims

The aim of this module is to introduce students to fundamental questions and theories concerning the general nature of political authority and the authority of democratic institutions in particular.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

  1. The Nature of Political Authority
    -Legitimacy v. Justification v. Authority
    -Leading Views of the Nature of Political Authority
  2. The Authority of Democracy: Advocates and Critics
    -Intrinsic Theories
    -Instrumentalist Theories
  3. The Obligations of Democratic Citizenship
    -Voting and Participation
    -Disobedience and Protest
    -Toleration and Compromise

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • (i) demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the most important questions and theories concerning the nature of political authority
  • (ii) demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the central theories defending and opposing the authority of democratic institutions
  • (iii) demonstrate the ability to systematically relate key questions and concepts in the philosophy of political authority to broader philosophical questions and concepts concerning morality, epistemology, and metaphysics
  • (iv) produce original and advanced written work on a topic of current interest in the philosophical literature on democracy and authority.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Subject specific skills

TBC

Transferable skills

TBC

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 9 sessions of 2 hours (6%)
Seminars 8 sessions of 1 hour (3%)
Private study 274 hours (91%)
Total 300 hours

Private study description

No private study requirements defined for this module.

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You must pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.

Assessment group A2
Weighting Study time Eligible for self-certification
Assessment component
5000 word essay 100% Yes (extension)
Reassessment component is the same
Feedback on assessment

Feedback on essays will be provided on the coversheet for the essay, addressing standard areas
of evaluation and individual content.

Courses

This module is Optional for:

  • Year 1 of TPHA-V7P2 Postgraduate Taught Continental Philosophy

This module is Option list A for:

  • TPHA-V7PN Postgraduate Taught Philosophy and the Arts
    • Year 1 of V7PN Philosophy and the Arts
    • Year 2 of V7PN Philosophy and the Arts

This module is Option list D for:

  • Year 2 of TPHA-V7PM Postgraduate Taught Philosophy

This module is Option list E for:

  • Year 1 of TPHA-V7PM Postgraduate Taught Philosophy