POLI70771
Philosophy of Politics Research
15
Semester 1
Postgraduate Taught
Level 7
Stephen Hood
Unit coordinator
1
FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 '
European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 7.5
<p style="margin: 0px; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;">This course introduces postgraduate Politics students to philosophical debates about the empirical study of politics.</p><p>We will consider the following questions: What counts as good evidence in politics research, and why does it matter? What is the status of values and norms within political research? What are the differences and similarities (if any) between natural and social sciences? Should feminist, poststructuralist, rationalist, and other philosophies inform the way we examine the political world? Throughout, we will focus on ontology (what exists), epistemology (how we can come to know what exists), and their implications for methodology (the various ways of studying what exists).</p>
<p>This course aims to introduce postgraduate students to philosophical debates about the empirical study of politics.</p>
<p style="margin: 16px 0px;">By the end of the course, students will be able to:</p><p>· understand different philosophies of science;</p><p>· recognise how these philosophies apply to the study of politics;</p><p>· critically assess different approaches to the study of politics;</p><p>· understand key philosophical terms in social science and politics;</p><p>· reflect on the philosophical bases of their own research</p><p>· apply philosophical ideas to their own writing.</p>
<p>Teaching will take place through weekly seminars. Students will be assigned preparatory questions to discuss, based on the readings. Students will come to class prepared to discuss them. </p><p>The readings for each week can be found most easily via the Library’s<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;margin:0px;"> </span></span><a href="https://manchester.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/leganto/readinglist/lists"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;margin:0px;">Reading List</span></span></a><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;font-size:10.5pt;margin:0px;"> </span></span>service.</p>
0
Other
100%
<p> </p><p><strong>MA: </strong>450 word essay plan (15%), 2550 word essay (85%);</p><p><strong>PHD:</strong> 300 word essay plan (15%), 1800 word essay (85%)<br/> </p>
<p>Formative feedback on assessments will be offered on essay drafts 2 weeks or more before the due date.</p>
N
<p>The following are useful introductory works.</p><ul> <li> Baggini, J and Fosl, P. (2010) <em>The Philosopher’s Toolkit: A Compendium of Philosophical Concepts and Methods</em>.</li></ul>
Seminars
20
0
130
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