Philosophy of Politics Research

POLI80771 Philosophy of Politics Research 15 Semester 1 Postgraduate Research Postgraduate Research Clara Sandelind Unit coordinator Politics 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Doctorate ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 7.5 This course introduces postgraduate Politics students to philosophical debates about the empirical study of politics. Course Content<table class="Table" style="margin-left:1px; border-collapse:collapse; border:solid black 1.0pt"> <tbody> <tr style="height:14.05pt"> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt; width:63.8pt; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:14.05pt" valign="top" width="85">Seminar</td> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt; width:361.45pt; border-left:none; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:14.05pt" valign="top" width="482">Topic</td> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt; width:58.4pt; border-left:none; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:14.05pt" valign="top" width="78">Lecturer</td> </tr> <tr style="height:20.1pt"> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt; width:63.8pt; border-top:none; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:20.1pt" valign="top" width="85">1 </td> <td style="border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; width:361.45pt; border-top:none; border-left:none; border-right:solid black 1.0pt; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:20.1pt" valign="top" width="482">Philosophy of Social Science: Social science and power</td> <td style="border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; width:58.4pt; border-top:none; border-left:none; border-right:solid black 1.0pt; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:20.1pt" valign="top" width="78"> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:21.1pt"> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt; width:63.8pt; border-top:none; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:21.1pt" valign="top" width="85">2 </td> <td style="border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; width:361.45pt; border-top:none; border-left:none; border-right:solid black 1.0pt; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:21.1pt" valign="top" width="482">Ontology and epistemology</td> <td style="border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; width:58.4pt; border-top:none; border-left:none; border-right:solid black 1.0pt; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:21.1pt" valign="top" width="78">Clara</td> </tr> <tr style="height:21.45pt"> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt; width:63.8pt; border-top:none; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:21.45pt" valign="top" width="85">3  </td> <td style="border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; width:361.45pt; border-top:none; border-left:none; border-right:solid black 1.0pt; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:21.45pt" valign="top" width="482">Feminist epistemology </td> <td style="border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; width:58.4pt; border-top:none; border-left:none; border-right:solid black 1.0pt; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:21.45pt" valign="top" width="78">Clara</td> </tr> <tr style="height:21.05pt"> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt; width:63.8pt; border-top:none; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:21.05pt" valign="top" width="85">4 </td> <td style="border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; width:361.45pt; border-top:none; border-left:none; border-right:solid black 1.0pt; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:21.05pt" valign="top" width="482">Falsification and Research Programmes</td> <td style="border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; width:58.4pt; border-top:none; border-left:none; border-right:solid black 1.0pt; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:21.05pt" valign="top" width="78"> </td> </tr> <tr style="height:21.3pt"> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt; width:63.8pt; border-top:none; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:21.3pt" valign="top" width="85">5 </td> <td style="border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; width:361.45pt; border-top:none; border-left:none; border-right:solid black 1.0pt; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:21.3pt" valign="top" width="482">Inference and Explanation</td> <td style="border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; width:58.4pt; border-top:none; border-left:none; border-right:solid black 1.0pt; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:21.3pt" valign="top" width="78">Clara</td> </tr> <tr style="height:21.6pt"> <td style="border:solid black 1.0pt; width:63.8pt; border-top:none; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:21.6pt" valign="top" width="85">6  </td> <td style="border-bottom:solid black 1.0pt; width:361.45pt; border-top:none; border-left:none; border-right:solid black 1.0pt; padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm; height:21.6pt" valign="top" width="482">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). OutcomesBy the end of the course, students will be able to:<ul> <li class="CxSpMiddle">understand different philosophies of science;</li> <li class="CxSpMiddle">recognise how these philosophies apply to the study of politics;</li> <li class="CxSpMiddle">critically assess different approaches to the study of politics;</li> <li class="CxSpMiddle">understand key philosophical terms in social science and politics;</li> <li class="CxSpMiddle">reflect on the philosophical bases of their own research</li> <li class="CxSpMiddle">apply philosophical ideas to their own writing.</li></ul> Teaching will take place through pre-recorded lectures, online group exercises, and weekly seminars. Short, introductory lectures will be offered online, available via Blackboard. Students will be assigned preparatory questions to discuss, based on the readings. Students will conduct discussions in advance of the class and come to class prepared to discuss them.The readings for each week can be found most easily via the Library’s <a href="https://manchester.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/leganto/readinglist/lists" style="color:blue; text-decoration:underline">Reading List</a> service.  2 Written assignment (inc essay) 100% Formative feedback on assessments will be offered on essay drafts 2 weeks or more before the due date.   N The following are useful introductory work.<ul> <li style="text-align:justify">Baggini, J and Fosl, P. (2010) The Philosopher’s Toolkit: A Compendium of Philosophical Concepts and Methods.</li></ul> Seminars 20 130