Students
PHIL3056 – Work and the Good Life
2020 – Session 2, Fully online/virtual
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Nicholas Smith
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
What is work and how should we value it? Is work something we do just for the wages? Or does work have a value beyond that? How does work affect our identity? Should the availability and quality of work be left to the job market? Or does the state have responsibilities to provide decent work? In the first half of the unit we look at how some of the great philosophers of the past answered such questions, including Plato, Aristotle, Adam Smith, Hegel, Karl Marx and Hannah Arendt. In the second half of the unit we examine some of the main worries people today have around work, such as work/life imbalance, precarious work and meaningless work. Then we look in detail at some major practical proposals for dealing with these problems, such as the introduction of a Universal Basic Income and a 4-day working week. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: explain key philosophical concepts about the nature and value of work
- ULO2: critically evaluate key philosophical arguments about the nature and value of work
- ULO3: apply philosophical concepts and arguments to major practical proposals addressing present and future problems of work
- ULO4: use philosophical concepts and arguments to develop independent thinking about major practical proposals addressing present and future problems of work
General Assessment Information
Late Assessment Penalty Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz | 20% | No | Weekly, weeks 2-7 |
| Participation and engagement | 20% | No | Weekly, throughout semester |
| Short essay | 25% | No | 01/10/20 |
| Case study / analysis of policy proposal | 35% | No | 06/11/20 |
Quiz
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Weekly, weeks 2-7
Weighting: 20%
Weekly quizzes testing knowledge of key concepts and arguments
On successful completion you will be able to:
- explain key philosophical concepts about the nature and value of work
Participation and engagement
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Weekly, throughout semester
Weighting: 20%
Contribution to online discussion boards
On successful completion you will be able to:
- explain key philosophical concepts about the nature and value of work
- critically evaluate key philosophical arguments about the nature and value of work
- apply philosophical concepts and arguments to major practical proposals addressing present and future problems of work
- use philosophical concepts and arguments to develop independent thinking about major practical proposals addressing present and future problems of work
Short essay
Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 01/10/20
Weighting: 25%
Short essay on a topic from part one of the unit
On successful completion you will be able to:
- explain key philosophical concepts about the nature and value of work
- critically evaluate key philosophical arguments about the nature and value of work
Case study / analysis of policy proposal
Assessment Type 1: Case study/analysis
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: 06/11/20
Weighting: 35%
critical analysis of key policy proposal
On successful completion you will be able to:
- apply philosophical concepts and arguments to major practical proposals addressing present and future problems of work
- use philosophical concepts and arguments to develop independent thinking about major practical proposals addressing present and future problems of work
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Delivery is fully on-line, with pre-recorded lectures, lecture notes, readings, discussion boards, feedback meetings, announcements, quizzes and assignment submission all available on or through the iLearn site.
Unit Schedule
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Week 1 27/07 |
Introduction to the philosophy of work |
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Part 1: Classical Problems in Philosophy of Work |
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Week 2 03/08 |
How should work be divided? Justice in Plato’s Republic. Reading: Plato; Muirhead |
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Week 3 10/08 |
What is the best kind of work? Aristotle’s hierarchy of types of action Reading: Angier |
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Week 4 17/08 |
How is work linked to wealth and well-being? Smith on the benefits and costs of the division of labour Reading: Adam Smith; Doppelt |
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Week 5 24/08 |
Can you be free when you work? Hegel on work and social freedom Reading: Hegel; Wood |
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Week 6 31/08 |
Can you be free when you work? Marx on free and alienated labour Reading: Marx; Sayers |
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Week 7 07/09 |
How far can work be humanized? Arendt on labour work and action Reading: Arendt, N. Smith |
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Mid-semester break |
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Week 8 28/09 |
Short Essay preparation. Assignment due this week (Thursday Oct 1). |
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Part 2: Contemporary problems of work and possible solutions |
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Week 9 05/10 |
Should we have to work for a living? Background to the Basic Income debate Reading: van Parijs. |
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Week 10 12/10 |
Basic income and liberal justice Reading: van Parijs, White |
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Week 11 19/10 |
Basic income and social freedom Reading: N. Smith |
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Week 12 26/10 |
Should we be working less? The case for a 4 day week Reading: tbc |
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Week 13 02/11 |
The policy proposal analysis, wrap up and feedback |
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy (Note: The Special Consideration Policy is effective from 4 December 2017 and replaces the Disruption to Studies Policy.)
Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
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