58吃瓜

PY4604 Political Philosophy

Academic year

2026 to 2027 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be confirmed.

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module Staff

Dr. B Sachs-Cobbe

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module is focused on moral questions concerning the role of the state and/or other political actors, such as NGOs and citizens, vis-脿-vis matters of, e.g., authority, rights and obligations, public policy, distributive justice, climate change, coercion, multiculturalism or tolerance.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

1 x 1-hour lecture and 1 x 2-hour seminar

Scheduled learning hours

30

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

267

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • articulate various theories of the state regarding what it owes to its people
  • explain the main contributions to political philosophy made by some of its seminal texts
  • analyse and contribute to ongoing debates in political philosophy
  • lay out the meaning of certain key concepts in political philosophy, such as justice and rights