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PHIL40420

Academic Year 2024/2025

The Good Society (PHIL40420)

Subject:
Philosophy
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Philosophy
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Professor Maeve Cooke
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module examines the question of the ‘good society’ from the point of view of a critical theory of society. Assuming some familiarity with the Frankfurt School tradition of critical social theory, it invites exploration of the way forward for this tradition in the face of ‘ecocide’ and in light of recent moves to make it less ‘Western-centric’ and less ‘anthropocentric’. Such decentrings raise questions about the meaning of concepts that have historically been central to this tradition such as freedom, materialism, ideology, immanence-transcendence and social transformation. Following two introductory sessions, the sessions will concentrate successively on the following topics: social critique, immanent-transcendence, human agency, politics, capitalism and social transformation.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:


By the end of the module students will have explored various socially critical perspectives on what it means to live a good human life in association with others, human and other-than-human. They will have a sound grasp of the literatures and ideas discussed and developed their own ideas of what it could mean, today, to engage in critical theorizing about society. They will have developed their text-based hermeneutic, analytic and critical skills, as well as their ability to present in writing well-reasoned, textually sensitive and professionally presented critical discussions of core topics. They will have been encouraged to formulate their own views through reflective engagement with the relevant academic literature and discussions with other participants in the seminars. They will have gained experience in developing independent research proposals and in assessing the presentations of their peers.

Indicative Module Content:

As detailed in module description

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

226

Seminar (or Webinar)

24

Total

250


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Seminars

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Individual Project: In-class presentation Week 5 Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes
20
Yes
Assignment(Including Essay): End-of-trimester essay.

Students may use generative Al for this assignment for certain purposes only under the guidance of their module coordinator and within academic integrity guidelines.
Week 15 Graded Yes
80
Yes

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

To be decided.

Name Role
Mr John McGuire Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Spring Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Thurs 14:00 - 15:50