Content and teaching | Assessment | Availability

Module content and teaching

Principal aims

This module aims to give you an understanding of the political philosophy of some of the most important European writers from 1640 onwards. You will be encouraged to read widely in both the primary and secondary literature concerning these writers. We aim to develop your understanding of how these thinkers’ political convictions are shaped by their views about morality, human nature, and the nature and history of social interaction. In addition, we aim to enhance your appreciation of debates about the connections between the ideas presented by these political philosophers, and historical developments concerning the state that took place in the period, as well as the economic transformation from agricultural to industrial society.

Principal learning outcomes

"On completion of this module, you should be able to: 1. Interpret and assess critically the best-known texts of some of the most important western European political and social thinkers from Hobbes to Marx. 2. Demonstrate an understanding of how political thought relates to issues concerning human nature, history and morality; 3. Confront and assess complex sets of ideas in political theory, and present and defend your point of view, both orally and in writing; 4. Demonstrate an appreciation of the historical context and development of political ideas.

Timetabled teaching activities

Weekly lectures and seminars in term 1 and 2. Revision session in term 3. Attendance at seminars and submission of required module work by the set date are module requirements.

Departmental link

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/studyundergrad/ugmodules/po201

Other essential notes

The module builds on ideas explored in Introduction to Politics during your first year, and it leads towards the third year module, Issues in Political Theory, which deals with present day argument about social justice and the relations between individuals, the state and communities. It also prepares you for options in political theory available in the third year.

Module assessment

Assessment group	Assessment name	Percentage
15 CATS (Module code: PO201-15)
A (Assessed work only)	Assessment	100%
30 CATS (Module code: PO201-30)
B (Examination only)	3 hour examination (Summer)	100%
C (Assessed/examined work)	3000 word essay	50%
	1.5 hour examination (Summer)	50%
VA (Visiting students only)	100% assessed (part year) visitng	100%

Module availability

This module is available on the following courses:

Core

• Undergraduate Politics (M100) - Year 2
• Undergraduate Politics with International Studies (M160) - Year 2
• Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and Quantitative Methods (M162) - Year 2
• Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and Italian (M165) - Year 3
• Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and Hispanic Studies (M166) - Year 2
• Undergraduate Politics and International Studies (M16A) - Year 2
• Undergraduate Politics and Sociology (ML13) - Year 2
• Undergraduate History and Politics (VM11) - Year 2

Optional Core

• Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and Global Sustainable Development (L2L8) - Year 2
• Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and French (M163) - Year 2
• Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and French (M163) - Year 3
• Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and German (M164) - Year 2
• Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and German (M164) - Year 3
• Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and Italian (M165) - Year 2
• Undergraduate Politics, International Studies and Hispanic Studies (M166) - Year 3
• Undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics (V7ML) - Year 2

Optional

• Undergraduate Economics 3 Year Variants (L100) - Year 2
• Undergraduate Economics, Politics and International Studies (LM1D) - Year 2
• Undergraduate Economics 4 Year Variants (LM1H) - Year 2
• Undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics (V7ML) - Year 2
• Undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics (V7MP) - Year 2
• Undergraduate Philosophy, Politics and Economics (V7MR) - Year 2