Module Directory

This module introduces students to competing approaches in contemporary political philosophy. It scrutinises different ways to conceptual the multiple challenges we are facing today: e.g., the crisis of the environment, of democracy and inequality, of war and peace, of justice, of facing up to colonialism and structural racism. In short, this module explores the contribution contemporary political philosophy makes to a better comprehension of our social and political world and is geared to finding new solutions.

The topic will be equality of opportunity. We will study some of the conceptions of equality of opportunity that are prevalent in contemporary political philosophy, examine their normative underpinnings in different theories of justice, and ask whether equality of opportunity can ever be fully realised. We will also look at some concepts that are closely related to equality of opportunity, such as social competition, meritocracy, and parental rights.

The aims of this module are:

• To deepen knowledge of key approaches to contemporary political philosophy;


• To further their grasp of what politics is and challenges we are facing today;


• To be able to identify and critically examine the presuppositions and assumptions we often make when talking about politics;


• To appreciate the different ways in which political philosophy bears on politics and creatively think about solutions to the complex problems we are facing.

By the end of the module, students will be expected to be able to:

1. Demonstrate an advanced ability to summarise in their own words and critically assess the principal theories and philosophical perspectives examined in this course.

2. Demonstrate an advanced ability to compare and evaluate conflicting accounts of basic concepts of political philosophy.

3. Offer detailed and sophisticated philosophical analysis and critique of journal articles published in the field.

4. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of the relation between political theory and practice by relating, for example, particular theories to contemporary challenges. 

Skills for your Professional Life (Transferable Skills)

By the end of the module, students should also have acquired a set of transferable skills, and in particular be able to:

5. Define the task in which they are engaged and exclude what is irrelevant.

6. Seek and organise the most relevant discussions and sources of information.

7. Compare and evaluate different arguments and assess the limitations of their own position or procedure. 

8. Be sensitive to the published positions of others and communicate their own views in ways that are accessible to them.

9. Whenever possible, think 'laterally' and creatively - see interesting connections and possibilities and present these clearly rather than as vague hunches.

10. Maintain intellectual flexibility and revise their own position if shown wrong.

By taking part in discussions, students will develop their abilities for structured discussion and well-constructed arguments. These skills will prepare them appropriately to intervene in the political domain and contribute to the on-going debates about how best to tackle the challenges we face.

This module will be delivered via:

• One 1-hour lecture per week. 
• One 1-hour seminar per week.

There will also be Reading Week when no teaching will take place, exact week to be confirmed.