School of Politics, International Studies & Philosophy
Academic Year
2007/2008
Level 2 Modules
The lists of modules are accurate as of 20 April 2006. Students will be notified of any changes
First Semester
110CST201 Introduction to Cultural Studies
This module offers an introduction to cultural studies through an analysis of various forms of representation and cultural/popular cultural practices
of and in Northern Ireland. Topics will include language, film, television, popular literature and sport. The course will consider the social, political
and cultural effects of these forms on conceptions of Northern Ireland. Assessment Weighting: 90% Continuous Assessment, 10% Tutorial
Contribution
110PAI201 Politics and Policy of the European Union
This module serves as in introduction to the European Union. It outlines the character of European governance, explores the main EU institutions
(such as the European Commission, the European Parliament and the role of the Courts) and the last part examines a series of the most salient
policy areas, such as the common agricultural policy, environmental policy, foreign and defence policy and competition policy. Assessment
Weighting: 35% Essay, 55% Exam, 10% Tutorial Contribution
110PAI204 Contemporary European Politics
This module will have two parts: Part I provides a thematic introduction to the comparative study of political institutions and party politics in
contemporary Western Europe. Part II examines selected Western European countries in more detail with respect to the themes explored in Part I.
Assessment Weighting: 35% Essay, 55% Exam, 10% Tutorial Contribution
110PAI205 Modern Political Thought
The course is structured round an in-depth study of two thinkers - John Stuart Mill and Karl Marx. It replaces a course - Western Political Thought that sought to cover a wider range of thinkers. The intention is that a more thorough study of concepts and issues will result from concentrating on
two thinkers. The choice of these two thinkers is justified by their pivotal role in the two main traditions informing much contemporary political
thought - liberalism, and socialism/radicalism. The course will involve a close reading of the major texts of the two thinkers, structured around
important themes in their work (e.g. freedom, rights, class, the state, religion, gender). Assessment Weighting: 35% Essay, 55% Exam, 10%
Tutorial Contribution
110PAI211 The Politics of Deeply Divided Societies
An examination of comparative ethnic conflict in contested regions such as Northern Ireland, Israel/Palestine, South Africa and the former
Yugoslavia. Assessment Weighting: 90% Exam, 10% Tutorial Contribution.
110PHL201 Epistemology
Problems in the theory of knowledge: the challenge of scepticism; what is it to know? justification of beliefs; forms of foundationalism; coherence;
the problem of induction; probability and scientific method. Assessment Weighting: 90% Continuous Assessment, 10% Tutorial Contribution
110PHL208 Scholastic Ethics
Analysis of the willed act; apprehension of the good; knowing, intending and acting; the virtues and virtue ethics; conscience and the practical
reason; Natural Law, morality, politics and law; the individual and the common good; the dignity of the human person and its legal protection.
Assessment Weighting: 35% Essay, 55% Exam, 10% Tutorial Contribution
110PHL210 Medieval Philosophy
An introductory survey of the development of Western thought between St Augustine (d.430) and the early Renaissance (More, Erasmus). Some
attention is devoted to the recovery of ancient Greek thought (Aristotelianism, Neoplatonism), the transmission and transformation of ideas during
the thousand-year period, Scholastic method, ideas about friendship, and the dialectic between philosophy and Christian faith. Assessment
Weighting: 35% Essay, 55% Exam, 10% Tutorial Contribution
110PHL226 Philosophy of Mind
Problems in the Philosophy of Mind concerning consciousness and cognition. Topics include the problem of consciousness (what it is and how
physical things can have it), theories of how persons understand their own and other minds, and whether mere machines can think. Among the
philosophers to be studied are Descartes, Chalmers, McGinn, Davies, Gopnik, and Searle. Assessment Weighting: 35% Essay, 55% Exam, 10%
Tutorial Contribution
Second Semester
210PAI203 Integration and Disintegration
The Module provides an historical introduction to the processes of European unity, disunity and integration in the second half of the twentieth
century. The module will introduce students to the major political and institutional developments, economic factors and ideological currents within
which the integration of Europe has been defined. Assessment Weighting: 35% Essay, 55% Exam, 10% Tutorial Contribution.
210PAI213 Irish Politics
An examination of the Politics of Ireland (North and South) since 1920. Assessment Weighting: 35% Essay, 55% Exam, 10% Tutorial Contribution.
210PAI217 International Relations
An examination of different approaches to the study of international relations and of key concepts such as the balance of power, national interest,
interdependence and imperialism. Assessment Weighting: 35% Essay, 55% Exam, 10% Tutorial Contribution.
210PAI218 American Politics
A survey course, introducing students to the American political system, current debates on democracy in America and the role of America and its
politics in the world. Assessment Weighting: 90% Exam, 10% Tutorial Contribution.
210PAI243 Skills and Methods in the Study of Politics
An introduction to the methodological issues involved in the study of Politics. Assessment Weighting: 35% Production of a Poster, 55% Essay,10%
Tutorial Contribution
210PHL200 Moral Theories
Weakness of will; a comparison of ancient and modern accounts. Kant. A critical discussion of utilitarian ethics. G.E.Moore and the naturalistic
fallacy. Reactions to Moore; (a) emotivism (b) imperativism (Hare). Hare's most recent ethical writings. Moral theories since Hare. Assessment
Weighting: 55% Exam, 35% Essay, 10% Tutorial Contribution.
210PHL206 History of Philosophy
An introduction to some of the central texts in early modern philosophy, including Descartes' Meditations, Locke's Essay Concerning Human
Understanding, Hume's Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, and Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. Topics to be covered include: empiricism
and rationalism, perception, primary and secondary qualities, skepticism, knowledge of mathematical truth, space, time, and the categories.
Assessment Weighting: 35% Essay, 55% Exam, 10% Tutorial Contribution.
210PHL209 Scholastic Metaphysics
An introduction to the Scholastic tradition of the philosophy of being, with particular emphasis on the writings of Aristotle, Plotinus, Augustine,
Aquinas as well as some modern and contemporary authors. Topics to be covered include substance, matter and form, potency and actuality,
causality, the transcendentals, being and essence, being and existence. An introduction to the Scholastic tradition of the philosophy of being, with
particular emphasis on the writings of Aristotle, Plotinus, Augustine, Aquinas as well as some modern and contemporary authors. Topics to be
covered include substance, matter and form, potency and actuality, causality, the transcendentals, being and essence, being and existence.
Assessment Weighting: 35% Essay, 55% Exam, 10% Tutorial Contribution
210PHL212 Logic and Critical Thinking
An introduction to the most basic logical notions of validity and entailment; examination of the nature of critical thinking, looking at topics such as
rational persuasiveness and fallacies in logic and in elementary probabilistic reasoning. Some elementary symbolic logic.
Assessment Weighting: 30% Logic Exercise, 70% Exam