This course involves close study of some major texts in the history of moral and political philosophy. These texts can vary from year to year and will be announced in advance.

2 lectures per week for 9 weeks, plus 4 tutorials. The course may not run every year. Options running this year are available on MyCampus.

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Two essays, equally weighted, each with a word limit of 2500 words.

The course aims to:

■ introduce students to some major texts in the history of moral and political philosophy

■ explore these text by close critical study

■ encourage students to engage themselves with the texts and appreciate their relevance to contemporary moral debate

When students have finished this course they will be able to:

■ State the central claims of the texts selected for study;

■ Critically assess those claims as elements of an intendedly coherent whole, and discuss whether particular claims are consistent with other parts of the work;

■ Discuss problems involved in interpreting the texts;

■ Assess the relevance of the texts selected to issues that engage philosophers today, such as virtue ethics, moral epistemology, practical reason, freedom, and responsibility;

■ Engage critically with the texts and discuss whether what they say is true or false, justifiable or unjustifiable.

Assessment for this course is at Masters Level.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.