Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Michael Olson
W6A Room 723
Tuesdays 10:00-12:00 and by appointment
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
(39cp at 100 level or above) or admission to GDipArts
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
Social philosophy is a type of philosophical investigation that focuses on issues affecting individuals and communities as a result of dysfunctions in modern society. Using the tools of philosophical analysis, it seeks to define the perspective from which criticism can be formulated, and how possible solutions can be found. The unit draws on key social philosophers of the 20th century to address some of the most pressing issues faced by contemporary societies, such as the social and environmental impacts of the current economic system; the effects of technology upon human bodies and lives; and the limitations placed on individual rights and freedoms by new forms of state and corporate institutions.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Online Quiz | 10% | No | Week 4 |
Contemporary application | 30% | No | Week 7 |
Philosophical Essay | 45% | No | Week 13 |
Participation | 15% | No | Throughout the term |
Due: Week 4
Weighting: 10%
An online quiz to be completed in Week 4. This quiz will involve writing short answers to questions based on the topics covered in the first three weeks of the course. The quiz will be available online and accessible to students for one week; once a student commences the quiz, there will be a set period (30-45 minutes) to complete the quiz.
The assessment criteria for this quiz are the accuracy and completeness of student responses.
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 30%
In this essay, students will connect the themes and ideas discussed in the unit to contemporary world events. Students will identify a recent news item and explain how it reflects, challenges, or supports the claims and arguments of one of the authors we have read. This will require students to synthesise their philosophical engagement with the principles of and objections to Enlightenment social philosophy with their appreciation of the important events of our own world.
Assessment criteria for this essay are detailed in the rubric provided on ilearn.
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 45%
This major assignment aims to test your ability to engage with a topic in depth. Writing an essay tests your ability to express, analyse, and organise ideas clearly and systematically, and to develop an argument or position in a sustained, coherent, and persuasive manner. In this essay (of approximately 2500 words), you will articulate and defend your own position on a matter of your choosing vis-a-vis one or more of the texts we have considered during the term.
Assessment criteria for this essay are detailed in the rubric provided on ilearn.
Due: Throughout the term
Weighting: 15%
Regular and active participation in class discussions—in tutorials for in-the-flesh students and on ilearn for external students—issn essential ingredient in coming to grips with the historical and present significance of the ideas we will discuss in this unit. This is an advanced unit, and so I expect students to take the lead by arriving to the discussion having read the assigned material carefully and prepared questions or objections based on their responses to the material.
The criteria by which this assessment is evaluated include both the quality (insight, concision, comprehension) and quantity of student participation.
Lecture and Tutorial Times
There are two lectures per week:
Monday 1:00-2:00
Tuesday 3:00-4:00
Tutorials for in-the-flesh students will follow the Tuesday lectures, meeting from 4:00-5:00.
Consult the University timetable for up-to-date meeting locations.
External students will be required to lead and participate in online discussions on ilearn. Just like in-the-flesh students, external students are expected to spend an hour a week posting questions, reading classmates' posts, and making constructive comments. I will also participate in these discussions from time to time, mainly in a facilitating role.
All required readings will also be made available through the library and iLearn.
Readings
Interested students might think about purchasing the following books, which we will refer to regularly:
Week One: Defining the Enlightenment in France
Week Two: Defining the Enlightenment in Prussia
Week Three Enlightenment Politics—Rationality and Progress
Week Four: Instrumental Reason and the Dialectic of Enlightenment
Week Five: A Crisis of Legitimacy
Weeks Six and Seven: Reaffirming the Enlightenment
Weeks Eight and Nine: The Enlightenment and Race
Week Ten: The Enlightenment and Gender
Week Eleven: Australian Colonisation
Weeks Twelve and Thirteen: Preparing your Essays
In the final two weeks of the semester, we will focus on your essays. In Week 12, I will discuss how best to structure longer, argumentative essays. You will workshop paper ideas. In Week 13, you will peer review each others' essays before submitting them at the end of the week.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html
Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html
Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Since last being offered, this unit has undergone the following changes: